"Puppet history WILL be returning" *biggest sigh of relief ever known to mankind unleashed* But seriously ty guys for this video, it helped clear up a lot of the questions myself and friends have had
If Puppet History has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Puppet History has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Puppet History has only one fan then that is me. If Puppet History has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against Puppet History, then I am against the world. Please keep going with Puppet History!
Please, never stop making Top 5 Beatdown. The asinine topics need to be thoroughly vetted though. As a viewer, I found the topic, the banter (especially S&R vs Guest), the compelling reasonings behind something being on tbe list, and the editing to be the most important factors of this show. The more dramatic the editing, the more engaging the episode of Top 5 Beatdown.
Yes! I feel like it would be better if it was cast only too! I want Steven and Matt and Lizzy and Carter (sorry if I forgot you) on there so I can get to know the cast and team better!
@@alyssaruiz_24 but then there will be less than 25 videos left of Top 5 Beatdown, won't there? Any guest is good, the guest just need to articulate very very well.
I don’t comment much on videos, but when Ryan said that he felt like the mistake made him feel like he’s not a good person 18:03, that made me really sad. You are not your mistakes. You’re a good person and don’t let cruel people on the internet tell you otherwise. You did not mean to hurt anyone and I think the way y’all handled things proves that. Same goes for Shane and Steven. We love y’all and the shows you create. Please be kind to yourselves.
I have stage 4 cancer and YOUR content has played an immeasurable part in my sanity and happiness. I have so much stress and fear, but when I watch ANYTHING you guys put out, I am so content and stress free!
I had breast cancer a few years ago, got diagnosed at 25 years old and I watched sooo much Buzzfeed Unsolved and after, Watcher. They are my comfort show too! Keep fighting!! I hope all goes well for you :)
Please don't stop making whatever kind of content you guys want to make! I'd hate to see watcher get pigeonholed into only making one or two kinds of shows just because some people think you should only be allowed to make spooky stuff for the rest of your lives. I subscribed to watchertv because i was excited to see what other kind of content could be made when worrying about finances wasn't as big an issue
I agree with this. Don't restrict yourself unduly because of a few assholes on the internet. I love your other shows that aren't explicitly spooky! At least keep some experimental stuff on the streamer.
I agree!! It’s their channel, they’re allowed to make the things they wanna make. It bugs me when the comments say “we just want you to sit at the table with subtitles on the screen” like that’s not what they want to do. ;-;
Isn’t the problem that we had to pay quite a lot for the content and not that they cannot do what they want? The pay for the streamer is more than I would pay for a few of the streamingplatforms and comparing the amount of shows, movies etc with different content and people, watcher is, unfirtunately, way to expensive for me. I don’t have a lot of money and if I have to choose, I choose the platform with the most value in terms of amount of wanted entertainment. I would understand if they then chose to remove themselves from youtube, bit woukd then just miss them. They can choose to do what they want, but they also have to take a hit, financially, if the audience don’t want the solution - so they have every right to produce what they want, but ultimately they need the income from somewhere to do it.
Please add this video to the main channel. I know there are a lot of people that were upset in April and don't watch the pod, but would see this very important discussion there. That being said, I love your content and will support you all through every endeavor. You are so talented and a great place to leave all the BS at the door
For what it’s worth, I will say I never got the sense this was done out of greed. You guys make the most high-quality, hysterical, warm-your-soul content that honestly gets me through the day (and life). The fact that I get any of it for free blows my mind. I am more than happy to pay and support, regardless of whatever platform you are on.
Y'all made a business decision a bit in a silo - as someone who has been in the professional world for a long time, this kind of stuff happens a LOT. You also responded and pivoted quickly and well. While some of the audience reaction was genuine, much of it was disproportionately awful (esp. towards Steven), which is in part a symptom of this weird parasocial internet culture we find ourselves in. People going onto your personal Instagram posts and writing terrible things was so out of pocket - I know that it is cliche to say that those comments reflect more about them than it does you, but it IS true. I really enjoy the streamer. And as long as I am still interested in the content (Ghost Files: Alone is incredible, btw) I will continue to support you, and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
To add to that I saw comments about their wives too and dissecting their personal lives which is just insane behavior. Parasocial relationships are not healthy and it’s crazy that people feel so comfortable harassing and cyber stalking strangers because they felt disappointed by them.
I think what you guys are missing is that we didn't come for food content or spooky content, we came for YOU. anything you guys are passionate about is what appeals to us. I don't think it's necessary to overcomplicate it and try and separate you content. Just make what you want, we're here for it all
One bit of feedback I’ve seen regarding Ghost Files is that it would be super cool if there could be more focus on the history of the places again. Like Unsolved was pretty great because even though we know we won’t get solid ghost evidence, the stories and history still made each location super interesting, and I know many people feel like Ghost Files needs a bit more of that. If you’re doing more of it it would be so cool if that could be included again! Just a suggestion, still looking forward to future content 💛
any reasonable person will understand this and where you guys are coming from. as an audience member i appreciate your honesty and the genuine effort you all put into this work. IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. THIS IS WORTH IT.
These guys you just showed us they are ripped out souls, even though they already did an apology video, to show their regret and earnest intentions. Dear God, I think they all three need a good drink and a big hug. Love you guys, admire you for never stop trying
I don’t know if it’s just me but please keep doing Are you Scared? Those little stories and you guys commenting on them just make my day!!! It’s that simple and yet entertaining
More Survival Mode please. More and longer episodes in a season would also be nice. Easily my favourite thing you guys do. Survival Mode, Puppet History, Top 5 Beatdown, and Too Many Spirits are why I’m here.
I fully appreciate that it was a damned if they do/damned if they don’t scenario. So many fans were asking them to go to international locations for ghost files and outside of Cali for weird wonderful word, and asking them to bring on other guests for puppet history; but those all have costs, so I feel like it was only natural for them to move to a different money making module and still keep fans happy. But I get it’s a tough time to ask fans to do that. I appreciate their honesty but I hope they know we appreciate them regardless and still hope they aim for their creative greatness ❤
That’s the thing that I’m confused about. I saw a lot of comments saying that they want more international stuff and then they do and then now the comments are “no?? If you guys need the money, just stay in Cali?? Just sit behind the table and talk to the camera??” 😂
Honestly this conversation I don't think was needed but it is very much appreciated that you wanted to reflect on the moment and dig deeper into your reasons for why you made the decisions you made. I think the amount of backlash and the level of vitriol you all received was so much more than it deserved and honestly it goes to show how terrible people and society is in this day and age. I really do hope all of this doesn't discourage you guys and know that what you guys do is appreciated and I wish nothing but all the success for you and your staff!
I personally LOVE puppet history. I like learning things and you make it incredibly fun and entertaining. I also love weird wonderful world, and the food files, food content in general. I dont think you need to move it in my opinion. I like that this channel does a lot of different content!
I normally don’t comment on TH-cam, but I wanted to express how proud I am of you three. I am sorry that you dealt with so much negativity and, honestly, a lot of completely unnecessary mean spiritedness. I am especially sorry for Stephen, and hope he didn’t take any of that ugliness to heart. You have all handled it very well, and have shown a lot of real maturity.
for what it’s worth, the production value, hard work, care and attention to detail you put in your videos is one of my favourite things about Watcher. strongly disagree with the comments saying we just want you two behind a desk with text on screen on a cheap camera - they do not speak for all of us
I'll echo what a lot of folks are saying here: we love you guys. Not JUST the spooky stuff. I rewatch Too Many Spirits often and I also love Survival Mode, so I hope those stick around as well. You're my comfort TV and I hope to keep seeing you for years to come 💜💜
I was bummed when they initially announced the plan to leave TH-cam but understood the mindset. Was super happy when they switched and decided to stay on TH-cam and continue with their new platform. I have nothing but love for Watcher
The owners and employees of Watcher are good artists who deserve to be paid for their work. People don't bat an eye when amazon makes subscribers watch ads with no price change or when netflix increases its paywall for the same service. I think a lot of the hate came from misplaced working class rage and the parasocial relationships a lot of viewers have with this content. Thanks for always making videos that put a smile on my face.
I agree with you, I did subscribe to the watcher streamer (even though I’m still watching things on TH-cam a lot 😂). I cancelled my Hulu and have ordered some merch. Over the years I haven’t paid for any of their content up until that point and I truly enjoy most of it. I want to see them succeed and I’m happy they were able to come I’m with a compromise after the backlash.
If it is any consolation I found you guys in April because of the controversy and checked out your content. I became such a fan that I was an early adopter to the streaming platform. While the apology is kind and appreciated you guys are honestly owed one too. The hate you guys received was beyond unnecessary. I never understood it especially when other TH-camrs are being accused of grooming and power imbalances. I am sorry you all were made to feel like bad people, it’s so hard being accused of intentions you never had. Some people make a difference by being doctors or scientist. You guys make art and comedy and the world needs that just as much.
As a long-time fan of yours, I’ve come to realize that my true admiration lies in the trio of you. While the content is commendable, it’s your genuine presence and camaraderie that truly captivate me. Whether it’s a spooky or lighthearted segment, I relish the opportunity to witness you all being yourselves. Your humor and interactions bring a smile to my face and make every video an enjoyable experience.
for what it’s worth, i followed ryan and shane over to watcher because i was a big fan of unsolved. i had never seen worth it, so i wasn’t very familiar with steven. but i have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of content you guys have released since launching, including steven’s food and cooking focused shows. i love the spooky and mystery content and am super pumped to have more of it, but i’m not sure it’s really necessary to make a new home for the other shows. the feeling i’ve gotten over the years is that most people are here to see your personalities and creativity and will gladly consume any content you guys choose to release 🙂
Honestly I am not sure if this will be the best choice. As a long time viewer for almost 8 years, I do love the spooky content - but one of the main reasons I enjoyed Watcher so much was to see you guys have a variety of shows, some obviously being passion projects, and I think a lot of viewers have the same feelings. While I get the choice business wise, it would most likely still make a lot of us happy to see a mix of shows with different focuses, as long as you guys enjoy making them
I’m so sorry you guys had to deal with any negativity at all. I can’t even imagine all the hard work that went into making Watcher and what you’ve created is truly great and special. I look forward to everything you guys do ❤️
i hope yall see the comments about people not wanting only spooky content. we want all kind of content!!! we love top 5 beatdown, food files, www, travel season, worth a shot and obv puppet history! they're all so fun! and it keeps the channel more interesting.
I am a fan of Shane and Ryan. I followed them since Buzzfeed and will continue to now through TH-cam and Watcher. Through the podcast I have become a fan of Steven and appreciate how sensible, kind- hearted and meaningful he is. Because of him I became a fan of Travel Season and I can’t wait for more! However… the more you incorporate Steven the better (ie Survival Mode, Puppet History, Too Many Spirits, and ultimately GHOST FILES! 😁) can’t wait for more!
the accusations of greed, especially the extra criticism steven got, always made me sad. i didn't agree with y'all's choice and was happy to see it rolled back, but it was obvious you guys weren't just being greedy and were just trying to make sure you and all your staff are financially stable. and since then i've even paid for a few months of watcher tv. you guys are great and i hope i get to see the streamer help y'all make more awesome stuff.
regarding content, Travel Season was award-worthy but i also love the stuff that's relatively cheap to make like Top 5 Beatdown and Survival Mode. also, while you guys double down on Ghost Files, keep doing Food Files!! it's so fun and since steven is involved in some of the spooky content, i like that it overlaps the ghoul boys with food content.
there was ABSOLUTELY some greed involved in their decision, dude. I find it very hard to believe a channel with 3M subs is truly struggling for money. And if they are, that is a clear sign that they are operating the business side of things absolutely horribly. Don't kid yourself.
Guys, there are a LOT of us that believe in and support you. As for myself and my teenager, we bought in- full year- right from the start. From BF days and into the Watcher era, we're fully on board. All the GF shows, Top5, AreYouScared?, and TooManySpirits are some of our favorite shows! Love all you do, fellas. Keep going. We love it!!
The Watcher streaming service is actually my favorite user experience for streaming currently. I got the year membership in April in support of them and it’s been great! The lack of ads is so nice and has made watching all of their content (old and new) really great. I do think this conversation was needed and in a way that backlash seems to be something to be somewhat grateful for because it sounds like it’s been taken to heart and you’ve gotten to see what your fans truly want. And it’s just genuine, fun content that we enjoy watching and you enjoy creating. Because when you enjoy created the content it shines through in the final product. Thank you for everything you do!
More than happy to support you, please know there are so many of us out here who love Watcher. Your friendship and wacky antics have provided respite, which is needed now more than ever. Super excited to see what you create in the future and absolutely loving Ghost Files Alone!
Appreciate the introspection but you really didn’t murder anyone. Switching to a streaming platform was a perfectly reasonable and logical decision. The communication was a bit wonky but you course-corrected. You really don’t owe people the rest of your careers. Watcher is one of the good ones. Happy to be on the streamer and to support whatever you continue doing. It’s brought me a lot of comfort and enjoyment over the years.
They don't owe the rest of their careers but it's still nice to see them acknowledging their mistakes and not pretending like that incident never happened.
@@annawilkinson3835 a lot of people haven't moved on and it's understandable if they haven't. If you want to bury your head in the sand and act like they weren't initially taking their fanbases loyalty for granted then that's great for you, I guess.
@@ryanbontrager5700 I disagree. There have been more than enough apologies and compromises. I hope people can get on with actually watching and enjoying watcher. It’s good stuff. If not, eh. 🤷♀️
If anything I hope you guys gave yourself grace - space to understand that we're all just human and we all tend to do things that will hurt people and cause some misunderstanding. I'm happy you guys still continued to provide content for us despite what happened, because I've been a fan since Buzzfeed and I'll always be a fan of Watcher. Personally, some insults during the whole thing were unnecessary, because I understood that you guys weren't being greedy - you all just needed a way to keep the business running, make sure everyone was paid, make sure their families were provided for, because at the end of the day, you guys were still running a business. Thank you guys and the everyone at Watcher for your hard work. Time to welcome new and amazing things for 2025 💪
Hey boys! This year was a little rough and I'm sorry it didn't go the way you guys planned. You are so special and have such a big place in my heart! Almost losing your content this year made me realize just how much your content is part of my days. I remember saying to my friend that it felt like I was broken up with lmao You apologized and fixed the mistake, we accepted the apology. All's good now. As much as you guys may have had a small issue with how the streamer was announced, the way some people reacted was way worse. I gotta say I appreciate Shane being the one to point out 1) how cheap Steven's new show was compared to GF and PH and 2) the affordability bit on the goodbye video, although said by Steven, was approved by ALL of them beforehand. The production value is part of what makes Watcher be Watcher and not something else. Plus, it's something that YOU want to do, so keep it up. While Unsolved was a huge part of my life and still holds a very dear place in my heart, I'd hate to see you guys getting stuck trying to recreate that. And honestly? It wouldn't work. Even if you guys try to recreate it now, with cheap cameras, sitting behind a desk, text on screen, and yadda yadda, the very people who talk about wanting Unsolved back would be the ones to find something to complain about the revamped Unsolved. BFU was/is what it was/is because it was done at that specific time by that specific version of Ryan and Shane. The times have changed, and you guys have also changed. No man steps in the same river etc etc etc. Keep producing stuff, keep adding new and different stuff. Keep doing cool sets and using cool equipment. Now, if I can be an ass and give an opinion that goes against what you guys are planning: I get the idea of wanting to separate spooky content from food content because it may confuse some people, or because some people care only about this or that show. But honestly, I don't think the contents need to be separate. This whole thing of "people won't understand what Watcher is about if they see a ghost hunting show and then a food travel show" makes no sense to me because Watcher has always been about whatever the three dorks that run it want it to be. Sometimes Watcher is about a weird blue puppet that teaches us about weird history stuff, sometimes it's about hunting ghosts, and sometimes the channel is about watching a sweet man having a mental breakdown over cooking a dish (BRING BACK DISH GRANTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), sometimes it is about Shane unjustly declaring himself the people's lister even though Ryan is the REAL people's lister. How hard is it to understand that a channel has different subjects? Like???? Anyways, if you guys think it will work, I'll be there to support you. But I don't think it needs to be done. *IF* you guys think that doubling GF and MF seasons will work AND you want to do it, fine by me. Whatever you guys do, I'll be there too. But please, don't stop doing the "smaller" shows like Top 5, TMS, Survival Mode etc. They give me so much joy, and are a great company when I'm busy working. It was a rough year but nothing stays forever, even shitty stuff. 2025 is almost there and you will have more chances to do what you want to do and what needs to be done ♥
While I love ghostfiles, puppet history, and mysteryfiles. I really enjoyed Steven's cooking videos posted in the beginning of watcher. It was fun to see what he would create next. Do what you guys enjoy.
I dont really comment but I believe in you guys... The day you guys put up a pay wall... I was probably the 1st one to purchase a year sub. You guys helped out during my darkest times.. so thank you
I don’t think I realised how much I use this channel as a comfort blanket until I nearly lost it. During the ‘leaving TH-cam’ video I didn’t even hear the positive news, it just hit me that I might not be able to have this content any more which was really upsetting. It sounds silly as really, it’s ‘just’ a series of shows but actually, over time it has become more than that. Thank you for your continued honestly and your fabulous content 🙏
you guys are making more of a difference in people’s lives than you know. the move to the streamer may have been a little messy but life is messy!!! i remember reading so many comments back in april and i couldn’t believe how unnecessarily cruel some people were being. you were given so little grace but still handled the situation so gracefully and if people are still holding on to pointless cruelty then it’s their problem. you listened to the valid concerns and made a move for the better. so proud to be a supporter of watcher and so excited for the next year ♥️
Please bring back Tourist Trapped. It's an incredible show. The fact that Ryan and Shane separately edited their parts and yet their work looked so similar was an awesome aspect in the Tourist Trapped: LA episode.
I've been following Ryan and Shane since 2016 and I never doubted your intentions. I honestly will never understand the toxicity from the "fans." When I learned about the streamer, I couldn't imagine that it could be a good idea because I couldn't imagine a world in which you all could find a good amount of new fans without TH-cam. People were upset and that is valid. You all made a bad business decision and you admitted that. But the toxicity/hatred/vitriol were all unwarranted. Just wanted you all to know that I've always been in your corner. Thank you for offering this conversation.
as someone who doesn’t have a lot of disposable income (as a choreographer and dance teacher in south dakota), i got a year’s subscription to the streamer when it went up, and i’d like to remind yall that your art/content is NOT something we’re entitled to as fans. it’s incredibly sweet that you all care sm, but know you’ve had ppl in ur corner all year!! proud of you boys.
Yes, not entitled to, but remember they never worked on content for free. They were paid by Buzzfeed and Watcher gets money from views, advertising, deals, sponsors, etc. And TH-cam gets money from our views too, attention and our data is how we pay, otherwise there would be no TH-cam.
I have been watching you guys since the buzzfeed days and that will not change. You guys are truly amazing and the hard work you put into your videos deserves to be recognized and rewarded. Every artist and creator should be compensated fairly for their talent and effort. It’s unfortunate that some people, caught up in their emotions, may not have shown the appreciation you deserve, but know that many of us recognize and value what you do. Personally, I’m not just here for Spookie-I love the variety you bring to the channel, and that versatility is what makes your content so special. Keep being creative and exploring new ideas, and don’t let negativity limit your creativity. I'm excited to continue supporting everything you do! Also LOVE Puppet History :)
So, so proud of you three. I absolutely love you all so much and I will support any content you put out and will continue to support you in the future. You’ve handled this tough subject so well. Thank you for all your hard work and content that makes my world a brighter place for sure. I cannot wait for all future Watcher content. Please never let anyone stop your creativity and prevent you from making shows you feel passionately about.
Thank you guys for making this video, as difficult as it must have been to do so. The transparency is much appreciated! I can definitely understand the original decision that was made, but the decision made after the feedback made sense, too. I still decided to subscribe to Watcher TV when it became available because I enjoy your content so much and wanted to help ensure you guys can continue to make the content you like to make. Also, I would just like to say that, as a huge fan of the spooky content, sometimes I'm in the mood for something not spooky and I hope you guys still continue to make the non-spooky shows you enjoy making and that I and others enjoy watching, such as Puppet History, Weird Wonderful World, Food Files, Travel Season, Top 5 Beatdown, etc. Maybe just under a different category in the streamer? I'm fine with that, but I know others may not be. Love you guys! Thank you so much for all that you do and I hope I can keep watching your content for many more years to come! P.S. Ryan, that first episode of Ghost Files: Alone was amazing and I'm really looking forward to episode 2 on Friday!
Shane “we’re not changing the world” can I just say, you’ve changed my world. Watching your content brings me so much joy and I hope you guys never stop posting
Agreed. Whenever I get some free time, like an hour or so on most days, the Watcher channel is what I gravitate towards. The last 9 years watching Ryan and Shane's work has been fantastic, and I'm looking forward to more.
As someone in a very small company that does artistic and creative work, I have so much empathy for what you guys are going through. Like, I am not a financial wizard, an expert on regulations, an HR head, or anything else you need to run a business. I am a designer, a builder, a creator. But a business needs those other things, so if it's just you and one or two other people... someone's gotta do it, and it can bog you down. Life got so much better once we hired someone who wasn't A Creative to focus on operations and staffing, and we got to pull back and focus a little more on the things that bring us the most joy in our work. I hope you guys find your balance and the financial stability to keep doing what you do! A few months into the first lockdown of 2020, several friends pointed me toward Puppet History, so I decided to check it out and... well, Puppet History and everything else you guys do got me through the worst of the pandemic and beyond. Love and support you. Thank you!
I'm excited for Puppet History! And honestly, it made sense to think about your business... Sometimes it's all trial and error. I think some people get way too wrapped up in TH-cam. I love your channel and I'm so glad you're staying on here... But my life's going on either way and it would be unreasonable for me to assume it was nefarious without evidence... so I didn't take it that hard. 🙂 You guys are doing a great job even if some mistakes are made along the way, and I hope you will take some time to celebrate all your accomplishments of the year! 🎉
I’ve been a silent follower for years… watcher is 100% my comfort channel. Whatever you post, I watch. Because YOU are what makes it. Businesses will always have mistakes, don’t ever think you hurt anyone. No one perfect. Your genuine love for your staff and audience is very clear. I’m happy you’re still here 🤎
The transparency and the humility of this episode is why I remained a fan. I stood by during all the backlash because I knew y’all would do the right thing and you did. Hardcore fans who want early or more access to your content can pay if they wish, but making sure the casual viewer such as myself can eventually have access as long as we have patience was the right play and I respect it. Happy holidays to the team at WATCHER - 2025 will be awesome
I discovered you guys this year, this first year my husband went to work in the office and I was put onto disability after graduating college and losing my career. I had never been more alone in my life and I get you guys don’t know me but you helped me through it So thank you. I’m sorry you had such a hard time with this transition. I’m glad to be a subscriber now, granted it took me a minute to sign up. I want to see you guys succeed ultimately, and think you all deserve abundant lives just like everyone else. I wish Watcher the best, I will be here the whole way growing pains and all. Can’t wait for the new year of content.
Hey, I actually was one of those people who was really hurt by the initial goodbye youtbue video. I am disabled, I don't have much money, and it felt like I was losing something I really had come to enjoy. with your follow apology, that was enough to get me stick around, but it did make me feel a bit more cynical about the whole thing. and I've only recently started going back and watching some of the stuff I missed, because I finally had sort of gotten past that initial cynicism. I absolutely understood that you needed to pay your staff, but it was hard to get past the tone deafness of your initial video. I really appreciate this video. I appreciate that you still view it as a mistake, you're not defensive, that you're forthright about that. I don't know, this helps answer some of the questions I still had, and fix some of the cynical viewpoint I'd taken.
I'll watch anything on this channel cause i know it's going to be a good time. Puppet History is the only thing i'll binge as a comfort show. Not only is it well done, but the story and the guests are HILARIOUS. And even if i know something is coming, i still find myself laughing and singing along. So I guess i'm saying... good work Shane! Can't wait for the next season.
I comment very rarely on anything, but just want to say that I am proud of you for making this video and very happy to hear your thoughts and experiences on the matter. Back in the april I was so scared for you and the company's future, and enraged at the community for some incredibly harsh and unreasonable words. I was happy that you took the feedback and managed to kept going but I've been constantly kinda apprehensive if one day I start a video and hear that you're shutting watcher down. So this conversation made me release a huge sigh of relief and I gained much hope for the future. Tbh I like all your content and am thankful for how many different shows and various kinds of knowledge you introduced me to. I came from buzzfeed for spooky content but I watched every single video you ever put up, including patreon stuff. I've never been into food content until I watched Steven's videos on watcher and loved it all. So I'd be happy if the channel stayed as is, without the need to subscribe to all other places (already following watcher, watcher podcasts, fya, and streamer). But I'm fine either way, especially if everything other than podcasts will be on streamer so there'll be a centralized place for all various shows. I love all the spooky content, puppet history, weird wonderful, 5 top beat downs, I hope they all stay! I also sometimes wish for Steven's shows to come back (dish granted my wholesome and funny beloved, i miss you). Anyway, thank you for giving me a way to unwind after stressful days throughout part of my high school, the exhausting uni years, and now a few years of being a working adult. The pandemic was especially tough, but all the various new types of content that watcher introduced to me was soothing for my soul. I've been a fan for idek how many years, I was incredibly happy when you announced watcher where you could be on your own terms, I joined the patreon in the first months after the launch and then migrated to streamer. I hope to see you successful and satisfied! You're kind and open people and I love to see you maintain a warm space for like-minded creators while putting such good stuff for the world to enjoy. I love you all, you and the whole crew. Sending warm hugs from Poland
You guys ARE good people. Of all the "bad things TH-camrs have done", wanting to start a streaming service doesn't even rank on that list. You make super fun content and I look forward to more of that. Please have a super relaxing holiday and I'm proud of you all for further processing this
Watcher has always been my favourite yt channel. The integrity, and love for creating is non-disputable! There is a strong balance between "strive for quality", and "childlike curiosity", which is why it became a comfort item for people. That is why the feeling of potential "loss" triggered such a strong response from viewers after the goodbye video, but it got crazy real quick! Btw there is no sustainable creative business without the drive from a bit of ego, every fire needs a flame. Business is muti-faceted in itself, add in actually caring about your staff, and trying 100% all the time, it's incredibly admirable in todays world! Plus.....you went first...."other channels" did the same thing AFTER you and no-one batted an eyelash....I noticed tho, cause that's my other fav channel. Congrats on being trailblazers, you smooth the way for others, but you end up taking the hit! Your integrity, and grace shine through 100%! P.S: 'What's up Mr. Lim 😉, looking good, big fan😍'
Honestly I love all the shows Watcher has ever released, but Too Many Spirits and Weird Wonderful World are my absolute comfort shows you guys upload. Puppet History has a special place in my heart as well. I'm glad we got to hear more about why the decision was made and how you all felt about it. I hope you find ways to continue making the shows that both you at Watcher and the audience love. I won't pretend to have knowledge about the finances behind entertainment, so all I'll say is this: I hope everyone that works at Watcher (hi Simone!) gets to stay there and is able to be paid what they're worth even though the streaming service hasn't been the saving force you might've hoped for. I know it certainly doesn't help that a number of the companies willing to pay for ads from TH-cam channels happen to be shady, have bad business practices etc and the comments end up being disappointed at the posters for being seen to support those companies. Even where they don't have many other choices for ads or income in general, since so many people can't afford to support a Patreon or join another streaming service that doesn't have the variety other streaming services do. I was really put off by the original decision, but really appreciated how it was handled afterwards. I hope you get to stay on TH-cam. PS: Matt you are a perfect counter-point to the founder trio for the podcast, we love you!
To Shane saying ‘it is but a spec in the grand scheme of things’ it is but it isn’t. I don’t think I could adequately express just how much Watcher and Puppet History, but all of the Watcher shows and team mean to me. Watcher shows are a very very huge part of my life and bring me so much joy. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. And thank you for listening to your community. I am forever grateful for you all every year. Much love and success to you all now and forever 💕
Please do not just turn your channel to "spooky". We love what you create. I personally love your short comedy video WAAAAAAY more than ghosts. So, we love food shows, www, puppet history. It hurts to see how much you are trying to fit in new conditions, but we are really appreciate all of your content. We are proud of you. Dont be so harsh on yourselves.
Hopefully this helps with any shame you may be feeling: everybody messes up, but not everybody humbly owns their stuff and makes it right. You guys have my respect for it. Thank you for being willing to do it publicly-you’ve set an example for others to follow, whether they’re TH-camrs or not.
To the Watcher Team: I am so happy that you addressed "the incident". I am even happier knowing that you were able to digest the good criticism and discard the absolutely abhorrent filth that was being spewed towards you all. I felt so bad for all of you. I felt disgusted about the hate directed at Stephen. When you guys came out to London I hopped in line to talk on the mic. Unfortunately time ran out and I returned to my seat. What I wanted to say then is that you have a massive fanbase that loves all of the hard work that you all do. The television quality content should continue. Keep aspiring to be great creators. Do not lose that passion. Command the production space. Grow the business. I am sorry for all of the "fans" that turned to immature hate. 💕
I am a poor person, when the announcement was made, i was happy for you guys and very surprised at the outrage. If felt like a natural next step to me and I thought it was an affordable price point, especially after all the years of FREE entertainment, i was happy to pay it. Clearly, everyone didn't agree, I'm happy y'all took it on the chin and reworked it to make your audience happy. Your humility has confirmed everything i thought i knew about your personalities, good on you
the thing is, they were able to do all this because we watched on youtube. they made money from our views and ad watching, so leaving youtube and preventing so many people from accessing their content was a terrible idea and I'm glad they were able to fix it right away.
Hey watcher gang. I’ve been watching since the beginning of unsolved and wanted to say I appreciate you guys doing this, though i never felt you owed us an apology. I was bummed out at The Incident when it happened, because it just isn’t affordable for me in my life right now. But it was never anger towards you guys being “greedy” or for trying to make higher quality content. It was just disappointed at not being able to watch the shows I love the most.I felt so sorry for you all because of the way people spoke to you about things, it was totally uncalled for. The internet has made parasocial relationships become so much more intense for people and it showed. I hope we as a fan base can learn to be better too. Please keep making the things you love and have fun with. You guys add so much humor and silliness and curiosity into my life and so many others too. I watch you guys when I feel lonely, sad, or when I’m just trying not to fall apart. I am going to school for media and production and you guys inspire me to keep going and keep creating. You have helped me (and I’m sure thousands of others) more than you could ever know. Please don’t beat yourselves up over this, you have definitely proven (to me at least) that your fans and love of creating are the core of what you do and I will continue to try and support you however I can. Genuinely , I thank you for all you’ve created and for keeping going after all the struggles. Your hard work and growth is not going unnoticed. Absolutely vibrating with excitement for another season of puppet history. I tell everyone I know to watch it, it’s my all time favorite thing on TH-cam. Apologies for the long ass comment. ❤
You guys better keep Puppet History forever. I'm emotionally attached and can't bear to part with it. Also, I like the food stuff, especially the travel food stuff (though I understand budget and resource constraints may affect your ability to produce those videos). As much as I love Ghost Files (I bought the jacket and everything), not everything has to be spooky. Just keep it weird and wonderful.
I’m glad that I got the streaming service. I got the year subscription and it felt like nothing for all of the years of free entertainment I’ve gotten from these guys.
I like the way it is now, those who want/can support them more get their content earlier and with bonus stuff, but they don’t lock themselves for a huge audience here
Man, I love you guys, and I can't wait for more content on Watcher, the three of you are my ultimate comfort people and it's honestly a treat to get to watch stuff like Travel Season, Ghost Files, dish granted, too many spirits, and obv survival mode. I wish you guys the best and hope that one day when I graduate and get a job, then I too can get on streamer, till then I'll be supporting you guys from TH-cam. Genuinely appreciate you three, super proud
I think the fact that you guys are here talking about this again, in such an open and honest way, so long after the fact just shows how much integrity you all have. I really hope that you guys didn't take some of the more hurtful comments to heart. They certainly got out of hand. You guys are great and I really appreciate the content you make and I'm always looking forward to more!❤
I subscribed the day you announced the change. I value your content and the many people involved in doing what you do, just like I purchase music and merchandise from my favourite bands. Whatever direction, you can count on us to support you.
I am so glad you guys are still here with us. Thank you for being so honest and responsible with your decisions.. the real ones will always stay, i love you guys so much
I listened to this an hour after it came out on Spotify and appreciated and respected you guys broaching the topic. My thought in April was that I could really see WHY you would pivot to putting your work behind a paid streamer, but the timing and messaging to announce it was really not great, both from a marketing perspective and to hear as a fan. I have been hugely relieved and have admired Watcher's work over the last year to be able to COME BACK from the massive backlash, not alienate YT viewers, and keep on producing amazing shows despite how much that must affected morale and operations. You guys and your team have been real professionals about it all. Thanks for the openness and transparency here and for taking the time to communicate all this with us. Both taking accountability and sharing your side and some things people may not be aware of, and also softly but rightfully calling out some of the extreme hatefulness some people exhibited towards you guys. I do want to say I was also very surprised back in April at the amount of other people suddenly claiming not to care about production value. I get it was mostly just an emotional reaction but I was truly like... I thought we all loved the incredible camerawork, editing, sets, locations, original musical numbers, brand design, illustrations, and motion graphics....
you guys have been my favorite creators since i first watched buzzfeed unsolved in 2018; ive loved every series you guys have made in watcher and i have never once been disappointed by this company or the insanely talented people within it!! i think the streaming platform was the right move for the company, and it sucks to see so many people misinterpret your motives. this has always been a channel thats innovative and full of creativity and passion. i hope that no one has to sacrifice their love for creating and producing content theyre really proud of after The Incident, and im disturbed by the fans who think they deserve an apology. i love you guys a lot, and ill love whatever the future of this company will be, thank you so much for all the work you do :)
I seen so many similar comments which is super great and I don’t comment much either but I remember when yall came out with that video I was ready without question to switch to y’all’s streaming service. It shows a lot about yall character to not only make a genuine apology video, cancel something people react poorly to and then yet months later dedicate a whole podcast episode still apologizing for it. It was so heart breaking hearing ryan say how badly he’s beating himself up for it. It’s okay we forgive yall. Yall have done way more good in the world to deserve this “mistake” still hang over your heads. Yall are the best
I’ve been a huge fan of all your shows for so many years now. I don’t blame you at all for paywalling your content. Businesses gotta business. So glad you walked it back though cause I love seeing yall on my feed
I’m also a viewer that has been following since the buzzfeed days; and as much as I love the spooky stuff; I also have a equal appreciation for Travel Season, Top 5 Beatdown, Dish Granted & Survival Mode etc. They’re all so special in their own ways and in those moments where the days feel dreadful, watching this content always makes my day better and more enjoyable.! Excited to see all the content with puppet history, mystery files & ghost files as well! But plzzz bring back Dish Granted, more of Travel Season and Top 5 Beatdown 🙌🏽
Not sure if you guys will ever even see this… but I just wanna say that I have forever love for you guys and all the hard workers at Watcher. I saw everything go down in real-time. It’s been rough as a fan of yours to watch you all have to go thru this. I know people feel they have justification to be angry/upset with you. I know you empathize with them. But I just wanted to say that I have been a long-time fan of your content, of the personal sides of yourselves that you allow the public to see, and I hope to continue watching your creations and entertainment for years to come. Here’s to 2025! 🎉
I listened to your show today and while I almost never comment on anything I watch I felt compelled to do so today. I do not think that there is anything wrong with charging people to have access to your content. I understand that not everyone has money to throw around but I also understand that you should be paid for your time, energy and creativity. You aren’t responsible for someone else recreation. That is my 2 cents. I have been watching you guys since buzz feed days and I like most of the stuff you guys do so I would likely pay for the content if I had to. $6 is a cup of coffee…Plus I suspect that you would have the money to do more if you did have a subscription base.
@@solley5160 100% agree. I don't have Netflix or Disney+, but I do have WatcherTV. For me, it's about priorities and where you want your money to go. It's the same reason that id rather buy less books but have them all come from local bookstores than get more for cheaper on amazon.
yeah, though before and now they still get money from ads and sponsors (so they are not not making anything rn, maybe just less straightforward/stable in this way) we kind of pay by watching those ads and sponsorships (I know it’s obv not the same, but nothing is truly free, we pay with our time and/or data all the time)
Also, 6$ can easily be a whole bag of coffee beans in other places in the world That was one of the topics discussed then, they have an international audience and also an audience that is very diverse in their wealth
@ ya I get what you are saying but once again, no one is responsible for someone else’s entertainment. Maybe they would like to be a bit more successful and maybe they would like to have some financial stability and maybe they would be able to provide even more content if they were able to have a solid base. Truth be told, they might have to stop following their dream one day because they were just trying to make other people happy. That would suck!
Love love LOVE, ghost files, mystery files, puppet history, are you scared is AMAZING!! and the trip to Korea you did Steven was sooo fun to watch!! Thank you guys for caring and listening to us! That's why we stay ❤ so excited for the new year and all the spooky content! Also too many spirits is EVERYTHING! please don't get rid of that 🫶🙏🙏 we love you guys. My 2 kids and I came to Cincinnati for the live show and it's a core memory for us all! Thank you all for everything you do! WE LOVE YOU GOOBERS!! ❤️ 😍 💖
Ryan - Ghost Files Alone is absolutely fucking awesome. You can tell there's magic in it and there was love put into it from the jump. So pumped for the rest of the season, you are Crushing it x
I want to thank Steven, Shane, and Ryan as well as the entire Watcher crew for all that you do! Watcher has been a staple of my life since its inception, and even before during the Buzzfeed days. The work all of you do does not go unnoticed or unappreciated, and as a matter of fact is such a comfort for my anxiety and I rewatch Watcher content all the time. It's clear this has been a difficult year for all of you but I and so many others are very grateful for you! I am so happy to be able to support you and your streamer as thanks for what you give me and everyone else. Here's to another year of Watcher and I can't to enjoy all that you have planned! I hope all of you get well-deserved breaks and time with your loved ones this holiday season :)
When Shane said "we aren't changing the world" 🥺 you guys change all of our worlds! You bring us so much joy and happiness! Thank you for staying on TH-cam ❤
Your channel has been my comfort content for years, through all my hard times, since the Unsolved days and even more now. I’m excited every time the pod comes out❤ You made a faulty judgement and took accountability, I think most of us really appreciate that.
I get that everyone got real butthurt about the paid stuff...I'm a business owner and though you may be doing things you love and you have fans or supporters, it doesn't mean you should continue to give it away for free, especially as you are running a business that costs MONEY. When something is free and becomes not as free, nobody likes it. Perhaps I'm in the minority but I was like...paid? WORTH EVERY PENNY. I hope you just keep the focus on continuing to do what you love, being yourselves and try to ignore noise from any haters. People support this because they love you and the dynamic...and in the end that's all that matters. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.
but they weren't just giving it away for free, the only reason they were able to make it here is through the ad watching from youtube viewers and youtube premium users. do they deserve to be paid for their work? of course and they were!
good thing i listened to the end because my comment was gonna be about the food content. dish granted is what introduced me to watcher and i miss seeing steven in the kitchen, so looking forward to the new channel
To echo a sentiment I saw already, I personally don't care if the content is spooky. I just like watching you guys interact with whatever you find interesting.
Love you guys from Australia! Keep up the good work. Subscribed to the streaming service without a second thought to support. To the Watcher team, please give yourselves some space to enjoy and applaud your work this year.
I absolutely love you guys! I gave birth to my little girl in June . I was only 26 weeks pregnant and she was 1 pound 15 oz. Your shows helped me make it through those long NICU days. I hope to someday be able to afford your streaming services after all of the hospital bills are paid. 😂 keep the content coming!
You guys are fantastic! I volunteer for a non profit that had to do some restructuring so that we could raise more money. This wasn’t well received by some of our original donors but we ultimately felt like by restructuring we could help more families in our community. You guys did what you needed to to do to be able to make content! You have to think about your audience as well as yourselves and your staff! This is your job and wellbeing so never feel bad to keeping your business afloat! It’s hard to know what’s gonna work until you try it! I think you guys handled this so well and really made changes when it didn’t go well. We know that your heart is in it and that you could easily leave to go make more money yet working for someone else. I love that you want to make this show accessible to everyone but you also need to value your work and time as well. People would never except a streaming service or sporting event to be free. Your content has value. Don’t sell yourselves short.
"Puppet history WILL be returning"
*biggest sigh of relief ever known to mankind unleashed*
But seriously ty guys for this video, it helped clear up a lot of the questions myself and friends have had
If they remade the history channel and did it all puppet history, it would be the best that the history channel had ever made.
I’d be so crushed if puppet history ended
If Puppet History has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Puppet History has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Puppet History has only one fan then that is me. If Puppet History has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against Puppet History, then I am against the world. Please keep going with Puppet History!
Puppet University students sound off! 🫡
Genuinely my favourite show in the world it brings me so much joy
Same, I'm waiting eagerly for the next season!
so happy to see this is the top comment
Puppet history is one of the best productions and needs to be protected and provided.
To Ryan's comments about " wanting to be like the good stuff" you guys are the good stuff.
Agreed
They really are. I watch more of their stuff than tv. Tv isn’t what it was when they were coming up. Tv is trying to be like them now.
Literally my favorite shows are the X files and watcher stuff. You guys are the good stuff ❤
Please, never stop making Top 5 Beatdown. The asinine topics need to be thoroughly vetted though. As a viewer, I found the topic, the banter (especially S&R vs Guest), the compelling reasonings behind something being on tbe list, and the editing to be the most important factors of this show. The more dramatic the editing, the more engaging the episode of Top 5 Beatdown.
yes i literally watched that series just in anticipation of what insane choice Shane would pick for #1 and the following chaos!
Yes! I feel like it would be better if it was cast only too! I want Steven and Matt and Lizzy and Carter (sorry if I forgot you) on there so I can get to know the cast and team better!
@@alyssaruiz_24 but then there will be less than 25 videos left of Top 5 Beatdown, won't there? Any guest is good, the guest just need to articulate very very well.
@ endless topics! Plus guests sometimes lol. I’m just not a fan of all the guests but I’m kind of a stinker haha
It's in my top 5 favorite Watcher shows list 🧡
I don’t comment much on videos, but when Ryan said that he felt like the mistake made him feel like he’s not a good person 18:03, that made me really sad. You are not your mistakes. You’re a good person and don’t let cruel people on the internet tell you otherwise. You did not mean to hurt anyone and I think the way y’all handled things proves that. Same goes for Shane and Steven. We love y’all and the shows you create. Please be kind to yourselves.
I have stage 4 cancer and YOUR content has played an immeasurable part in my sanity and happiness. I have so much stress and fear, but when I watch ANYTHING you guys put out, I am so content and stress free!
Hi stranger on the Internet, we love you and you are very strong. You've got this ❤️
I pray you get well I couldn’t even imagine having cancer I get well. ❤️🩹
I had breast cancer a few years ago, got diagnosed at 25 years old and I watched sooo much Buzzfeed Unsolved and after, Watcher. They are my comfort show too! Keep fighting!! I hope all goes well for you :)
Sending well wishes your way.
You are amazing ❤ sending love and strength your way and wishing you all the best x
Matt Real complements this podcast extremely well, bringing out the best in Shane, Ryan, & Steven.
He’s great, adds a lot. He asked good questions here
Yeah, insightful questions that don't pander or sound preplanned.
Please don't stop making whatever kind of content you guys want to make! I'd hate to see watcher get pigeonholed into only making one or two kinds of shows just because some people think you should only be allowed to make spooky stuff for the rest of your lives.
I subscribed to watchertv because i was excited to see what other kind of content could be made when worrying about finances wasn't as big an issue
I agree with this. Don't restrict yourself unduly because of a few assholes on the internet. I love your other shows that aren't explicitly spooky! At least keep some experimental stuff on the streamer.
I agree!! It’s their channel, they’re allowed to make the things they wanna make. It bugs me when the comments say “we just want you to sit at the table with subtitles on the screen” like that’s not what they want to do. ;-;
Isn’t the problem that we had to pay quite a lot for the content and not that they cannot do what they want? The pay for the streamer is more than I would pay for a few of the streamingplatforms and comparing the amount of shows, movies etc with different content and people, watcher is, unfirtunately, way to expensive for me. I don’t have a lot of money and if I have to choose, I choose the platform with the most value in terms of amount of wanted entertainment.
I would understand if they then chose to remove themselves from youtube, bit woukd then just miss them.
They can choose to do what they want, but they also have to take a hit, financially, if the audience don’t want the solution - so they have every right to produce what they want, but ultimately they need the income from somewhere to do it.
Agreed!!
Please add this video to the main channel. I know there are a lot of people that were upset in April and don't watch the pod, but would see this very important discussion there.
That being said, I love your content and will support you all through every endeavor. You are so talented and a great place to leave all the BS at the door
For what it’s worth, I will say I never got the sense this was done out of greed. You guys make the most high-quality, hysterical, warm-your-soul content that honestly gets me through the day (and life). The fact that I get any of it for free blows my mind. I am more than happy to pay and support, regardless of whatever platform you are on.
Y'all made a business decision a bit in a silo - as someone who has been in the professional world for a long time, this kind of stuff happens a LOT. You also responded and pivoted quickly and well.
While some of the audience reaction was genuine, much of it was disproportionately awful (esp. towards Steven), which is in part a symptom of this weird parasocial internet culture we find ourselves in. People going onto your personal Instagram posts and writing terrible things was so out of pocket - I know that it is cliche to say that those comments reflect more about them than it does you, but it IS true.
I really enjoy the streamer. And as long as I am still interested in the content (Ghost Files: Alone is incredible, btw) I will continue to support you, and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
I couldn't have said it better, myself. This comment is IT!!!!!!!
Same! Very well said!
Exactly! It was very strange how people turned so ugly about this app.
To add to that I saw comments about their wives too and dissecting their personal lives which is just insane behavior. Parasocial relationships are not healthy and it’s crazy that people feel so comfortable harassing and cyber stalking strangers because they felt disappointed by them.
I think what you guys are missing is that we didn't come for food content or spooky content, we came for YOU. anything you guys are passionate about is what appeals to us. I don't think it's necessary to overcomplicate it and try and separate you content. Just make what you want, we're here for it all
view numbers say otherwise unfortunately.
Straight I just want to see Ryan and Shane bullshit lol
@@rainiwakura2430 Agreed. Making content still requires money no matter how much they try to simplify it.
❕❕❕❕💯
One bit of feedback I’ve seen regarding Ghost Files is that it would be super cool if there could be more focus on the history of the places again. Like Unsolved was pretty great because even though we know we won’t get solid ghost evidence, the stories and history still made each location super interesting, and I know many people feel like Ghost Files needs a bit more of that. If you’re doing more of it it would be so cool if that could be included again! Just a suggestion, still looking forward to future content 💛
I agree. I always loved the history and the stories of places.
i SO agree!! i feel like im missing context a lot of the time
any reasonable person will understand this and where you guys are coming from. as an audience member i appreciate your honesty and the genuine effort you all put into this work. IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. THIS IS WORTH IT.
These guys you just showed us they are ripped out souls, even though they already did an apology video, to show their regret and earnest intentions. Dear God, I think they all three need a good drink and a big hug. Love you guys, admire you for never stop trying
so so true. bless them for being sweethearts.
I don’t know if it’s just me but please keep doing Are you Scared? Those little stories and you guys commenting on them just make my day!!! It’s that simple and yet entertaining
More Survival Mode please. More and longer episodes in a season would also be nice. Easily my favourite thing you guys do. Survival Mode, Puppet History, Top 5 Beatdown, and Too Many Spirits are why I’m here.
I’m hoping for more poppy playtime videos :)
Puppet History and Survival Mode are soft, cozy blanket shows.
@@Knowsy_chaos_muppet That is the exact appeal of those shows for me. Couldn’t have put it better myself.
These are my favourite shows too!
I wish too many spirits will have more stories like the first season. I don't want to see a long intro of Steven bully Ricky.
I fully appreciate that it was a damned if they do/damned if they don’t scenario. So many fans were asking them to go to international locations for ghost files and outside of Cali for weird wonderful word, and asking them to bring on other guests for puppet history; but those all have costs, so I feel like it was only natural for them to move to a different money making module and still keep fans happy. But I get it’s a tough time to ask fans to do that. I appreciate their honesty but I hope they know we appreciate them regardless and still hope they aim for their creative greatness ❤
That’s the thing that I’m confused about. I saw a lot of comments saying that they want more international stuff and then they do and then now the comments are “no?? If you guys need the money, just stay in Cali?? Just sit behind the table and talk to the camera??” 😂
Honestly this conversation I don't think was needed but it is very much appreciated that you wanted to reflect on the moment and dig deeper into your reasons for why you made the decisions you made. I think the amount of backlash and the level of vitriol you all received was so much more than it deserved and honestly it goes to show how terrible people and society is in this day and age. I really do hope all of this doesn't discourage you guys and know that what you guys do is appreciated and I wish nothing but all the success for you and your staff!
I personally LOVE puppet history. I like learning things and you make it incredibly fun and entertaining. I also love weird wonderful world, and the food files, food content in general. I dont think you need to move it in my opinion. I like that this channel does a lot of different content!
I watch every single thing they release because every single thing is entertaining in my opinion
I normally don’t comment on TH-cam, but I wanted to express how proud I am of you three. I am sorry that you dealt with so much negativity and, honestly, a lot of completely unnecessary mean spiritedness. I am especially sorry for Stephen, and hope he didn’t take any of that ugliness to heart. You have all handled it very well, and have shown a lot of real maturity.
Maybe you should stick to not making comments
@@iokua1120 dude, evaluate your life.
@@KatieRaeRae Retired at 40 and no bills (cars/house/toys paid in cash) and a hot wife with a six pack at 42. I think I’m fine.
@@iokua1120 😂
@@KatieRaeRae haha (good sport I see)
for what it’s worth, the production value, hard work, care and attention to detail you put in your videos is one of my favourite things about Watcher. strongly disagree with the comments saying we just want you two behind a desk with text on screen on a cheap camera - they do not speak for all of us
THIS!!!
100%
MY EXACT THOUGHTS!! YES!
1000000%
I'll echo what a lot of folks are saying here: we love you guys. Not JUST the spooky stuff. I rewatch Too Many Spirits often and I also love Survival Mode, so I hope those stick around as well. You're my comfort TV and I hope to keep seeing you for years to come 💜💜
I was bummed when they initially announced the plan to leave TH-cam but understood the mindset. Was super happy when they switched and decided to stay on TH-cam and continue with their new platform. I have nothing but love for Watcher
I think puppet history still fits the "spooky" category. A lot of history is dark and macabre and that in itself feels right for the spooky banner
Facts!
The owners and employees of Watcher are good artists who deserve to be paid for their work.
People don't bat an eye when amazon makes subscribers watch ads with no price change or when netflix increases its paywall for the same service.
I think a lot of the hate came from misplaced working class rage and the parasocial relationships a lot of viewers have with this content.
Thanks for always making videos that put a smile on my face.
That's a great point, I agree
I agree with you, I did subscribe to the watcher streamer (even though I’m still watching things on TH-cam a lot 😂). I cancelled my Hulu and have ordered some merch. Over the years I haven’t paid for any of their content up until that point and I truly enjoy most of it. I want to see them succeed and I’m happy they were able to come I’m with a compromise after the backlash.
What do you mean?? EVERYONE bats an eye when ads get added to Amazon or Netflix increases prices
Literally, everyone complained about Amazon and Netflix screwing over subscribers.
People complain about that type of stuff all the time.
If it is any consolation I found you guys in April because of the controversy and checked out your content. I became such a fan that I was an early adopter to the streaming platform.
While the apology is kind and appreciated you guys are honestly owed one too. The hate you guys received was beyond unnecessary. I never understood it especially when other TH-camrs are being accused of grooming and power imbalances. I am sorry you all were made to feel like bad people, it’s so hard being accused of intentions you never had.
Some people make a difference by being doctors or scientist. You guys make art and comedy and the world needs that just as much.
well said!
As a long-time fan of yours, I’ve come to realize that my true admiration lies in the trio of you. While the content is commendable, it’s your genuine presence and camaraderie that truly captivate me. Whether it’s a spooky or lighthearted segment, I relish the opportunity to witness you all being yourselves. Your humor and interactions bring a smile to my face and make every video an enjoyable experience.
for what it’s worth, i followed ryan and shane over to watcher because i was a big fan of unsolved. i had never seen worth it, so i wasn’t very familiar with steven. but i have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of content you guys have released since launching, including steven’s food and cooking focused shows. i love the spooky and mystery content and am super pumped to have more of it, but i’m not sure it’s really necessary to make a new home for the other shows. the feeling i’ve gotten over the years is that most people are here to see your personalities and creativity and will gladly consume any content you guys choose to release 🙂
Honestly I am not sure if this will be the best choice. As a long time viewer for almost 8 years, I do love the spooky content - but one of the main reasons I enjoyed Watcher so much was to see you guys have a variety of shows, some obviously being passion projects, and I think a lot of viewers have the same feelings. While I get the choice business wise, it would most likely still make a lot of us happy to see a mix of shows with different focuses, as long as you guys enjoy making them
I’m so sorry you guys had to deal with any negativity at all. I can’t even imagine all the hard work that went into making Watcher and what you’ve created is truly great and special. I look forward to everything you guys do ❤️
i hope yall see the comments about people not wanting only spooky content. we want all kind of content!!! we love top 5 beatdown, food files, www, travel season, worth a shot and obv puppet history! they're all so fun! and it keeps the channel more interesting.
I am a fan of Shane and Ryan. I followed them since Buzzfeed and will continue to now through TH-cam and Watcher. Through the podcast I have become a fan of Steven and appreciate how sensible, kind- hearted and meaningful he is. Because of him I became a fan of Travel Season and I can’t wait for more! However… the more you incorporate Steven the better (ie Survival Mode, Puppet History, Too Many Spirits, and ultimately GHOST FILES! 😁) can’t wait for more!
the accusations of greed, especially the extra criticism steven got, always made me sad. i didn't agree with y'all's choice and was happy to see it rolled back, but it was obvious you guys weren't just being greedy and were just trying to make sure you and all your staff are financially stable. and since then i've even paid for a few months of watcher tv. you guys are great and i hope i get to see the streamer help y'all make more awesome stuff.
regarding content, Travel Season was award-worthy but i also love the stuff that's relatively cheap to make like Top 5 Beatdown and Survival Mode. also, while you guys double down on Ghost Files, keep doing Food Files!! it's so fun and since steven is involved in some of the spooky content, i like that it overlaps the ghoul boys with food content.
it was definitely Stevens idea
there was ABSOLUTELY some greed involved in their decision, dude. I find it very hard to believe a channel with 3M subs is truly struggling for money. And if they are, that is a clear sign that they are operating the business side of things absolutely horribly. Don't kid yourself.
@STSGuitar16 bet anything it was Stevens idea
Yeah I felt pretty terrible for what people were saying especially about Steven and his show.
Guys, there are a LOT of us that believe in and support you.
As for myself and my teenager, we bought in- full year- right from the start. From BF days and into the Watcher era, we're fully on board. All the GF shows, Top5, AreYouScared?, and TooManySpirits are some of our favorite shows! Love all you do, fellas. Keep going. We love it!!
The Watcher streaming service is actually my favorite user experience for streaming currently. I got the year membership in April in support of them and it’s been great! The lack of ads is so nice and has made watching all of their content (old and new) really great. I do think this conversation was needed and in a way that backlash seems to be something to be somewhat grateful for because it sounds like it’s been taken to heart and you’ve gotten to see what your fans truly want. And it’s just genuine, fun content that we enjoy watching and you enjoy creating. Because when you enjoy created the content it shines through in the final product. Thank you for everything you do!
More than happy to support you, please know there are so many of us out here who love Watcher. Your friendship and wacky antics have provided respite, which is needed now more than ever. Super excited to see what you create in the future and absolutely loving Ghost Files Alone!
Appreciate the introspection but you really didn’t murder anyone. Switching to a streaming platform was a perfectly reasonable and logical decision. The communication was a bit wonky but you course-corrected. You really don’t owe people the rest of your careers. Watcher is one of the good ones. Happy to be on the streamer and to support whatever you continue doing. It’s brought me a lot of comfort and enjoyment over the years.
@@annawilkinson3835 i second this! ✋
They don't owe the rest of their careers but it's still nice to see them acknowledging their mistakes and not pretending like that incident never happened.
@ I don’t feel that way, but if it has helped other people feel better about it, then good.
@@annawilkinson3835 a lot of people haven't moved on and it's understandable if they haven't. If you want to bury your head in the sand and act like they weren't initially taking their fanbases loyalty for granted then that's great for you, I guess.
@@ryanbontrager5700 I disagree. There have been more than enough apologies and compromises. I hope people can get on with actually watching and enjoying watcher. It’s good stuff. If not, eh. 🤷♀️
So proud of you guys for this. Was never mad at your decision but love you even more for this episode
If anything I hope you guys gave yourself grace - space to understand that we're all just human and we all tend to do things that will hurt people and cause some misunderstanding. I'm happy you guys still continued to provide content for us despite what happened, because I've been a fan since Buzzfeed and I'll always be a fan of Watcher. Personally, some insults during the whole thing were unnecessary, because I understood that you guys weren't being greedy - you all just needed a way to keep the business running, make sure everyone was paid, make sure their families were provided for, because at the end of the day, you guys were still running a business. Thank you guys and the everyone at Watcher for your hard work. Time to welcome new and amazing things for 2025 💪
Hey boys!
This year was a little rough and I'm sorry it didn't go the way you guys planned. You are so special and have such a big place in my heart! Almost losing your content this year made me realize just how much your content is part of my days. I remember saying to my friend that it felt like I was broken up with lmao
You apologized and fixed the mistake, we accepted the apology. All's good now. As much as you guys may have had a small issue with how the streamer was announced, the way some people reacted was way worse. I gotta say I appreciate Shane being the one to point out 1) how cheap Steven's new show was compared to GF and PH and 2) the affordability bit on the goodbye video, although said by Steven, was approved by ALL of them beforehand.
The production value is part of what makes Watcher be Watcher and not something else. Plus, it's something that YOU want to do, so keep it up. While Unsolved was a huge part of my life and still holds a very dear place in my heart, I'd hate to see you guys getting stuck trying to recreate that. And honestly? It wouldn't work. Even if you guys try to recreate it now, with cheap cameras, sitting behind a desk, text on screen, and yadda yadda, the very people who talk about wanting Unsolved back would be the ones to find something to complain about the revamped Unsolved. BFU was/is what it was/is because it was done at that specific time by that specific version of Ryan and Shane. The times have changed, and you guys have also changed. No man steps in the same river etc etc etc. Keep producing stuff, keep adding new and different stuff. Keep doing cool sets and using cool equipment.
Now, if I can be an ass and give an opinion that goes against what you guys are planning: I get the idea of wanting to separate spooky content from food content because it may confuse some people, or because some people care only about this or that show. But honestly, I don't think the contents need to be separate. This whole thing of "people won't understand what Watcher is about if they see a ghost hunting show and then a food travel show" makes no sense to me because Watcher has always been about whatever the three dorks that run it want it to be. Sometimes Watcher is about a weird blue puppet that teaches us about weird history stuff, sometimes it's about hunting ghosts, and sometimes the channel is about watching a sweet man having a mental breakdown over cooking a dish (BRING BACK DISH GRANTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), sometimes it is about Shane unjustly declaring himself the people's lister even though Ryan is the REAL people's lister. How hard is it to understand that a channel has different subjects? Like???? Anyways, if you guys think it will work, I'll be there to support you. But I don't think it needs to be done.
*IF* you guys think that doubling GF and MF seasons will work AND you want to do it, fine by me. Whatever you guys do, I'll be there too.
But please, don't stop doing the "smaller" shows like Top 5, TMS, Survival Mode etc. They give me so much joy, and are a great company when I'm busy working.
It was a rough year but nothing stays forever, even shitty stuff. 2025 is almost there and you will have more chances to do what you want to do and what needs to be done ♥
While I love ghostfiles, puppet history, and mysteryfiles. I really enjoyed Steven's cooking videos posted in the beginning of watcher. It was fun to see what he would create next. Do what you guys enjoy.
I dont really comment but I believe in you guys... The day you guys put up a pay wall... I was probably the 1st one to purchase a year sub. You guys helped out during my darkest times.. so thank you
I don’t think I realised how much I use this channel as a comfort blanket until I nearly lost it. During the ‘leaving TH-cam’ video I didn’t even hear the positive news, it just hit me that I might not be able to have this content any more which was really upsetting. It sounds silly as really, it’s ‘just’ a series of shows but actually, over time it has become more than that. Thank you for your continued honestly and your fabulous content 🙏
100% my woobie show, too. I get you.
you guys are making more of a difference in people’s lives than you know. the move to the streamer may have been a little messy but life is messy!!! i remember reading so many comments back in april and i couldn’t believe how unnecessarily cruel some people were being. you were given so little grace but still handled the situation so gracefully and if people are still holding on to pointless cruelty then it’s their problem. you listened to the valid concerns and made a move for the better. so proud to be a supporter of watcher and so excited for the next year ♥️
Please bring back Tourist Trapped. It's an incredible show. The fact that Ryan and Shane separately edited their parts and yet their work looked so similar was an awesome aspect in the Tourist Trapped: LA episode.
I've been following Ryan and Shane since 2016 and I never doubted your intentions. I honestly will never understand the toxicity from the "fans." When I learned about the streamer, I couldn't imagine that it could be a good idea because I couldn't imagine a world in which you all could find a good amount of new fans without TH-cam. People were upset and that is valid. You all made a bad business decision and you admitted that. But the toxicity/hatred/vitriol were all unwarranted. Just wanted you all to know that I've always been in your corner. Thank you for offering this conversation.
This whole conversation was so damn lovely. The introspection, the honesty, the awareness.
as someone who doesn’t have a lot of disposable income (as a choreographer and dance teacher in south dakota), i got a year’s subscription to the streamer when it went up, and i’d like to remind yall that your art/content is NOT something we’re entitled to as fans. it’s incredibly sweet that you all care sm, but know you’ve had ppl in ur corner all year!! proud of you boys.
Yes, not entitled to, but remember they never worked on content for free. They were paid by Buzzfeed and Watcher gets money from views, advertising, deals, sponsors, etc. And TH-cam gets money from our views too, attention and our data is how we pay, otherwise there would be no TH-cam.
I have been watching you guys since the buzzfeed days and that will not change. You guys are truly amazing and the hard work you put into your videos deserves to be recognized and rewarded. Every artist and creator should be compensated fairly for their talent and effort. It’s unfortunate that some people, caught up in their emotions, may not have shown the appreciation you deserve, but know that many of us recognize and value what you do. Personally, I’m not just here for Spookie-I love the variety you bring to the channel, and that versatility is what makes your content so special. Keep being creative and exploring new ideas, and don’t let negativity limit your creativity. I'm excited to continue supporting everything you do! Also LOVE Puppet History :)
So, so proud of you three. I absolutely love you all so much and I will support any content you put out and will continue to support you in the future. You’ve handled this tough subject so well. Thank you for all your hard work and content that makes my world a brighter place for sure. I cannot wait for all future Watcher content. Please never let anyone stop your creativity and prevent you from making shows you feel passionately about.
Thank you guys for making this video, as difficult as it must have been to do so. The transparency is much appreciated! I can definitely understand the original decision that was made, but the decision made after the feedback made sense, too. I still decided to subscribe to Watcher TV when it became available because I enjoy your content so much and wanted to help ensure you guys can continue to make the content you like to make.
Also, I would just like to say that, as a huge fan of the spooky content, sometimes I'm in the mood for something not spooky and I hope you guys still continue to make the non-spooky shows you enjoy making and that I and others enjoy watching, such as Puppet History, Weird Wonderful World, Food Files, Travel Season, Top 5 Beatdown, etc. Maybe just under a different category in the streamer? I'm fine with that, but I know others may not be.
Love you guys! Thank you so much for all that you do and I hope I can keep watching your content for many more years to come!
P.S. Ryan, that first episode of Ghost Files: Alone was amazing and I'm really looking forward to episode 2 on Friday!
Shane “we’re not changing the world” can I just say, you’ve changed my world. Watching your content brings me so much joy and I hope you guys never stop posting
Agreed. Whenever I get some free time, like an hour or so on most days, the Watcher channel is what I gravitate towards. The last 9 years watching Ryan and Shane's work has been fantastic, and I'm looking forward to more.
As someone in a very small company that does artistic and creative work, I have so much empathy for what you guys are going through. Like, I am not a financial wizard, an expert on regulations, an HR head, or anything else you need to run a business. I am a designer, a builder, a creator. But a business needs those other things, so if it's just you and one or two other people... someone's gotta do it, and it can bog you down. Life got so much better once we hired someone who wasn't A Creative to focus on operations and staffing, and we got to pull back and focus a little more on the things that bring us the most joy in our work.
I hope you guys find your balance and the financial stability to keep doing what you do! A few months into the first lockdown of 2020, several friends pointed me toward Puppet History, so I decided to check it out and... well, Puppet History and everything else you guys do got me through the worst of the pandemic and beyond. Love and support you. Thank you!
I'm excited for Puppet History!
And honestly, it made sense to think about your business... Sometimes it's all trial and error.
I think some people get way too wrapped up in TH-cam. I love your channel and I'm so glad you're staying on here... But my life's going on either way and it would be unreasonable for me to assume it was nefarious without evidence... so I didn't take it that hard. 🙂
You guys are doing a great job even if some mistakes are made along the way, and I hope you will take some time to celebrate all your accomplishments of the year! 🎉
I’ve been a silent follower for years… watcher is 100% my comfort channel. Whatever you post, I watch. Because YOU are what makes it. Businesses will always have mistakes, don’t ever think you hurt anyone. No one perfect. Your genuine love for your staff and audience is very clear. I’m happy you’re still here 🤎
The transparency and the humility of this episode is why I remained a fan. I stood by during all the backlash because I knew y’all would do the right thing and you did. Hardcore fans who want early or more access to your content can pay if they wish, but making sure the casual viewer such as myself can eventually have access as long as we have patience was the right play and I respect it. Happy holidays to the team at WATCHER - 2025 will be awesome
I discovered you guys this year, this first year my husband went to work in the office and I was put onto disability after graduating college and losing my career. I had never been more alone in my life and I get you guys don’t know me but you helped me through it So thank you. I’m sorry you had such a hard time with this transition. I’m glad to be a subscriber now, granted it took me a minute to sign up. I want to see you guys succeed ultimately, and think you all deserve abundant lives just like everyone else. I wish Watcher the best, I will be here the whole way growing pains and all. Can’t wait for the new year of content.
love the cross examination format, matt makes an awesome prosecutor
Hey, I actually was one of those people who was really hurt by the initial goodbye youtbue video. I am disabled, I don't have much money, and it felt like I was losing something I really had come to enjoy. with your follow apology, that was enough to get me stick around, but it did make me feel a bit more cynical about the whole thing. and I've only recently started going back and watching some of the stuff I missed, because I finally had sort of gotten past that initial cynicism. I absolutely understood that you needed to pay your staff, but it was hard to get past the tone deafness of your initial video.
I really appreciate this video. I appreciate that you still view it as a mistake, you're not defensive, that you're forthright about that. I don't know, this helps answer some of the questions I still had, and fix some of the cynical viewpoint I'd taken.
I'll watch anything on this channel cause i know it's going to be a good time. Puppet History is the only thing i'll binge as a comfort show. Not only is it well done, but the story and the guests are HILARIOUS. And even if i know something is coming, i still find myself laughing and singing along. So I guess i'm saying... good work Shane! Can't wait for the next season.
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I comment very rarely on anything, but just want to say that I am proud of you for making this video and very happy to hear your thoughts and experiences on the matter. Back in the april I was so scared for you and the company's future, and enraged at the community for some incredibly harsh and unreasonable words. I was happy that you took the feedback and managed to kept going but I've been constantly kinda apprehensive if one day I start a video and hear that you're shutting watcher down. So this conversation made me release a huge sigh of relief and I gained much hope for the future.
Tbh I like all your content and am thankful for how many different shows and various kinds of knowledge you introduced me to. I came from buzzfeed for spooky content but I watched every single video you ever put up, including patreon stuff. I've never been into food content until I watched Steven's videos on watcher and loved it all. So I'd be happy if the channel stayed as is, without the need to subscribe to all other places (already following watcher, watcher podcasts, fya, and streamer). But I'm fine either way, especially if everything other than podcasts will be on streamer so there'll be a centralized place for all various shows.
I love all the spooky content, puppet history, weird wonderful, 5 top beat downs, I hope they all stay! I also sometimes wish for Steven's shows to come back (dish granted my wholesome and funny beloved, i miss you).
Anyway, thank you for giving me a way to unwind after stressful days throughout part of my high school, the exhausting uni years, and now a few years of being a working adult. The pandemic was especially tough, but all the various new types of content that watcher introduced to me was soothing for my soul. I've been a fan for idek how many years, I was incredibly happy when you announced watcher where you could be on your own terms, I joined the patreon in the first months after the launch and then migrated to streamer. I hope to see you successful and satisfied! You're kind and open people and I love to see you maintain a warm space for like-minded creators while putting such good stuff for the world to enjoy. I love you all, you and the whole crew.
Sending warm hugs from Poland
You guys ARE good people. Of all the "bad things TH-camrs have done", wanting to start a streaming service doesn't even rank on that list. You make super fun content and I look forward to more of that. Please have a super relaxing holiday and I'm proud of you all for further processing this
Watcher has always been my favourite yt channel. The integrity, and love for creating is non-disputable! There is a strong balance between "strive for quality", and "childlike curiosity", which is why it became a comfort item for people. That is why the feeling of potential "loss" triggered such a strong response from viewers after the goodbye video, but it got crazy real quick!
Btw there is no sustainable creative business without the drive from a bit of ego, every fire needs a flame.
Business is muti-faceted in itself, add in actually caring about your staff, and trying 100% all the time, it's incredibly admirable in todays world!
Plus.....you went first...."other channels" did the same thing AFTER you and no-one batted an eyelash....I noticed tho, cause that's my other fav channel.
Congrats on being trailblazers, you smooth the way for others, but you end up taking the hit!
Your integrity, and grace shine through 100%!
P.S: 'What's up Mr. Lim 😉, looking good, big fan😍'
Honestly I love all the shows Watcher has ever released, but Too Many Spirits and Weird Wonderful World are my absolute comfort shows you guys upload. Puppet History has a special place in my heart as well. I'm glad we got to hear more about why the decision was made and how you all felt about it. I hope you find ways to continue making the shows that both you at Watcher and the audience love. I won't pretend to have knowledge about the finances behind entertainment, so all I'll say is this: I hope everyone that works at Watcher (hi Simone!) gets to stay there and is able to be paid what they're worth even though the streaming service hasn't been the saving force you might've hoped for. I know it certainly doesn't help that a number of the companies willing to pay for ads from TH-cam channels happen to be shady, have bad business practices etc and the comments end up being disappointed at the posters for being seen to support those companies. Even where they don't have many other choices for ads or income in general, since so many people can't afford to support a Patreon or join another streaming service that doesn't have the variety other streaming services do. I was really put off by the original decision, but really appreciated how it was handled afterwards. I hope you get to stay on TH-cam.
PS: Matt you are a perfect counter-point to the founder trio for the podcast, we love you!
To Shane saying ‘it is but a spec in the grand scheme of things’ it is but it isn’t. I don’t think I could adequately express just how much Watcher and Puppet History, but all of the Watcher shows and team mean to me. Watcher shows are a very very huge part of my life and bring me so much joy. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. And thank you for listening to your community. I am forever grateful for you all every year. Much love and success to you all now and forever 💕
Please do not just turn your channel to "spooky". We love what you create. I personally love your short comedy video WAAAAAAY more than ghosts. So, we love food shows, www, puppet history. It hurts to see how much you are trying to fit in new conditions, but we are really appreciate all of your content. We are proud of you.
Dont be so harsh on yourselves.
I’m sure many in the comments will agree with me…… I fu*king LOVE you guys! So genuine and it’s clear you love what you do and care about the fans!
Hopefully this helps with any shame you may be feeling: everybody messes up, but not everybody humbly owns their stuff and makes it right. You guys have my respect for it. Thank you for being willing to do it publicly-you’ve set an example for others to follow, whether they’re TH-camrs or not.
To the Watcher Team:
I am so happy that you addressed "the incident". I am even happier knowing that you were able to digest the good criticism and discard the absolutely abhorrent filth that was being spewed towards you all. I felt so bad for all of you. I felt disgusted about the hate directed at Stephen.
When you guys came out to London I hopped in line to talk on the mic. Unfortunately time ran out and I returned to my seat. What I wanted to say then is that you have a massive fanbase that loves all of the hard work that you all do. The television quality content should continue. Keep aspiring to be great creators. Do not lose that passion. Command the production space. Grow the business.
I am sorry for all of the "fans" that turned to immature hate. 💕
I am a poor person, when the announcement was made, i was happy for you guys and very surprised at the outrage. If felt like a natural next step to me and I thought it was an affordable price point, especially after all the years of FREE entertainment, i was happy to pay it. Clearly, everyone didn't agree, I'm happy y'all took it on the chin and reworked it to make your audience happy. Your humility has confirmed everything i thought i knew about your personalities, good on you
the thing is, they were able to do all this because we watched on youtube. they made money from our views and ad watching, so leaving youtube and preventing so many people from accessing their content was a terrible idea and I'm glad they were able to fix it right away.
Hey watcher gang. I’ve been watching since the beginning of unsolved and wanted to say I appreciate you guys doing this, though i never felt you owed us an apology. I was bummed out at The Incident when it happened, because it just isn’t affordable for me in my life right now. But it was never anger towards you guys being “greedy” or for trying to make higher quality content. It was just disappointed at not being able to watch the shows I love the most.I felt so sorry for you all because of the way people spoke to you about things, it was totally uncalled for. The internet has made parasocial relationships become so much more intense for people and it showed. I hope we as a fan base can learn to be better too. Please keep making the things you love and have fun with. You guys add so much humor and silliness and curiosity into my life and so many others too. I watch you guys when I feel lonely, sad, or when I’m just trying not to fall apart. I am going to school for media and production and you guys inspire me to keep going and keep creating. You have helped me (and I’m sure thousands of others) more than you could ever know. Please don’t beat yourselves up over this, you have definitely proven (to me at least) that your fans and love of creating are the core of what you do and I will continue to try and support you however I can. Genuinely , I thank you for all you’ve created and for keeping going after all the struggles. Your hard work and growth is not going unnoticed.
Absolutely vibrating with excitement for another season of puppet history. I tell everyone I know to watch it, it’s my all time favorite thing on TH-cam. Apologies for the long ass comment. ❤
You guys better keep Puppet History forever. I'm emotionally attached and can't bear to part with it. Also, I like the food stuff, especially the travel food stuff (though I understand budget and resource constraints may affect your ability to produce those videos). As much as I love Ghost Files (I bought the jacket and everything), not everything has to be spooky. Just keep it weird and wonderful.
I’m glad that I got the streaming service. I got the year subscription and it felt like nothing for all of the years of free entertainment I’ve gotten from these guys.
@@Chanceisafoodie It’s a really nice streamer too. I’m on a lot of wonky platforms, and I appreciate the effort that has gone into watcher’s.
Same here! I felt honored to be able to give something back to people who have honestly given me so much happiness.
Same!
I like the way it is now, those who want/can support them more get their content earlier and with bonus stuff, but they don’t lock themselves for a huge audience here
Man been waiting for top 5 beatdown. Love that show. Please don’t stop making it
Man, I love you guys, and I can't wait for more content on Watcher, the three of you are my ultimate comfort people and it's honestly a treat to get to watch stuff like Travel Season, Ghost Files, dish granted, too many spirits, and obv survival mode. I wish you guys the best and hope that one day when I graduate and get a job, then I too can get on streamer, till then I'll be supporting you guys from TH-cam. Genuinely appreciate you three, super proud
I think the fact that you guys are here talking about this again, in such an open and honest way, so long after the fact just shows how much integrity you all have. I really hope that you guys didn't take some of the more hurtful comments to heart. They certainly got out of hand. You guys are great and I really appreciate the content you make and I'm always looking forward to more!❤
I subscribed the day you announced the change.
I value your content and the many people involved in doing what you do, just like I purchase music and merchandise from my favourite bands. Whatever direction, you can count on us to support you.
I am so glad you guys are still here with us. Thank you for being so honest and responsible with your decisions.. the real ones will always stay, i love you guys so much
I listened to this an hour after it came out on Spotify and appreciated and respected you guys broaching the topic. My thought in April was that I could really see WHY you would pivot to putting your work behind a paid streamer, but the timing and messaging to announce it was really not great, both from a marketing perspective and to hear as a fan.
I have been hugely relieved and have admired Watcher's work over the last year to be able to COME BACK from the massive backlash, not alienate YT viewers, and keep on producing amazing shows despite how much that must affected morale and operations. You guys and your team have been real professionals about it all.
Thanks for the openness and transparency here and for taking the time to communicate all this with us. Both taking accountability and sharing your side and some things people may not be aware of, and also softly but rightfully calling out some of the extreme hatefulness some people exhibited towards you guys.
I do want to say I was also very surprised back in April at the amount of other people suddenly claiming not to care about production value. I get it was mostly just an emotional reaction but I was truly like... I thought we all loved the incredible camerawork, editing, sets, locations, original musical numbers, brand design, illustrations, and motion graphics....
you guys have been my favorite creators since i first watched buzzfeed unsolved in 2018; ive loved every series you guys have made in watcher and i have never once been disappointed by this company or the insanely talented people within it!! i think the streaming platform was the right move for the company, and it sucks to see so many people misinterpret your motives. this has always been a channel thats innovative and full of creativity and passion. i hope that no one has to sacrifice their love for creating and producing content theyre really proud of after The Incident, and im disturbed by the fans who think they deserve an apology. i love you guys a lot, and ill love whatever the future of this company will be, thank you so much for all the work you do :)
I seen so many similar comments which is super great and I don’t comment much either but I remember when yall came out with that video I was ready without question to switch to y’all’s streaming service. It shows a lot about yall character to not only make a genuine apology video, cancel something people react poorly to and then yet months later dedicate a whole podcast episode still apologizing for it. It was so heart breaking hearing ryan say how badly he’s beating himself up for it. It’s okay we forgive yall. Yall have done way more good in the world to deserve this “mistake” still hang over your heads. Yall are the best
I’ve been a huge fan of all your shows for so many years now. I don’t blame you at all for paywalling your content. Businesses gotta business. So glad you walked it back though cause I love seeing yall on my feed
I’m also a viewer that has been following since the buzzfeed days; and as much as I love the spooky stuff; I also have a equal appreciation for Travel Season, Top 5 Beatdown, Dish Granted & Survival Mode etc. They’re all so special in their own ways and in those moments where the days feel dreadful, watching this content always makes my day better and more enjoyable.! Excited to see all the content with puppet history, mystery files & ghost files as well!
But plzzz bring back Dish Granted, more of Travel Season and Top 5 Beatdown 🙌🏽
Not sure if you guys will ever even see this… but I just wanna say that I have forever love for you guys and all the hard workers at Watcher.
I saw everything go down in real-time. It’s been rough as a fan of yours to watch you all have to go thru this.
I know people feel they have justification to be angry/upset with you. I know you empathize with them. But I just wanted to say that I have been a long-time fan of your content, of the personal sides of yourselves that you allow the public to see, and I hope to continue watching your creations and entertainment for years to come.
Here’s to 2025! 🎉
I listened to your show today and while I almost never comment on anything I watch I felt compelled to do so today. I do not think that there is anything wrong with charging people to have access to your content. I understand that not everyone has money to throw around but I also understand that you should be paid for your time, energy and creativity. You aren’t responsible for someone else recreation. That is my 2 cents. I have been watching you guys since buzz feed days and I like most of the stuff you guys do so I would likely pay for the content if I had to. $6 is a cup of coffee…Plus I suspect that you would have the money to do more if you did have a subscription base.
@@solley5160 100% agree. I don't have Netflix or Disney+, but I do have WatcherTV. For me, it's about priorities and where you want your money to go. It's the same reason that id rather buy less books but have them all come from local bookstores than get more for cheaper on amazon.
yeah, though before and now they still get money from ads and sponsors (so they are not not making anything rn, maybe just less straightforward/stable in this way)
we kind of pay by watching those ads and sponsorships (I know it’s obv not the same, but nothing is truly free, we pay with our time and/or data all the time)
Also, 6$ can easily be a whole bag of coffee beans in other places in the world
That was one of the topics discussed then, they have an international audience and also an audience that is very diverse in their wealth
@ ya I get what you are saying but once again, no one is responsible for someone else’s entertainment. Maybe they would like to be a bit more successful and maybe they would like to have some financial stability and maybe they would be able to provide even more content if they were able to have a solid base. Truth be told, they might have to stop following their dream one day because they were just trying to make other people happy. That would suck!
Love love LOVE, ghost files, mystery files, puppet history, are you scared is AMAZING!! and the trip to Korea you did Steven was sooo fun to watch!! Thank you guys for caring and listening to us! That's why we stay ❤ so excited for the new year and all the spooky content! Also too many spirits is EVERYTHING! please don't get rid of that 🫶🙏🙏 we love you guys. My 2 kids and I came to Cincinnati for the live show and it's a core memory for us all! Thank you all for everything you do! WE LOVE YOU GOOBERS!! ❤️ 😍 💖
Ryan - Ghost Files Alone is absolutely fucking awesome. You can tell there's magic in it and there was love put into it from the jump. So pumped for the rest of the season, you are Crushing it x
I want to thank Steven, Shane, and Ryan as well as the entire Watcher crew for all that you do! Watcher has been a staple of my life since its inception, and even before during the Buzzfeed days. The work all of you do does not go unnoticed or unappreciated, and as a matter of fact is such a comfort for my anxiety and I rewatch Watcher content all the time. It's clear this has been a difficult year for all of you but I and so many others are very grateful for you! I am so happy to be able to support you and your streamer as thanks for what you give me and everyone else. Here's to another year of Watcher and I can't to enjoy all that you have planned! I hope all of you get well-deserved breaks and time with your loved ones this holiday season :)
I respect you going out of your way to reassure us fans 🥺
I appreciate you guys, making this video, it shows you really own your actions and care about the audience
When Shane said "we aren't changing the world" 🥺 you guys change all of our worlds! You bring us so much joy and happiness! Thank you for staying on TH-cam ❤
Your channel has been my comfort content for years, through all my hard times, since the Unsolved days and even more now. I’m excited every time the pod comes out❤ You made a faulty judgement and took accountability, I think most of us really appreciate that.
so much love and respect to you guys
There's a cynical side to me that says they're bringing it up again bc something is in the works and they're trying to feel us out.
I get that everyone got real butthurt about the paid stuff...I'm a business owner and though you may be doing things you love and you have fans or supporters, it doesn't mean you should continue to give it away for free, especially as you are running a business that costs MONEY. When something is free and becomes not as free, nobody likes it. Perhaps I'm in the minority but I was like...paid? WORTH EVERY PENNY. I hope you just keep the focus on continuing to do what you love, being yourselves and try to ignore noise from any haters. People support this because they love you and the dynamic...and in the end that's all that matters. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.
but they weren't just giving it away for free, the only reason they were able to make it here is through the ad watching from youtube viewers and youtube premium users. do they deserve to be paid for their work? of course and they were!
good thing i listened to the end because my comment was gonna be about the food content. dish granted is what introduced me to watcher and i miss seeing steven in the kitchen, so looking forward to the new channel
To echo a sentiment I saw already, I personally don't care if the content is spooky. I just like watching you guys interact with whatever you find interesting.
Love you guys from Australia! Keep up the good work. Subscribed to the streaming service without a second thought to support. To the Watcher team, please give yourselves some space to enjoy and applaud your work this year.
I absolutely love you guys! I gave birth to my little girl in June . I was only 26 weeks pregnant and she was 1 pound 15 oz. Your shows helped me make it through those long NICU days. I hope to someday be able to afford your streaming services after all of the hospital bills are paid. 😂 keep the content coming!
You guys are fantastic! I volunteer for a non profit that had to do some restructuring so that we could raise more money. This wasn’t well received by some of our original donors but we ultimately felt like by restructuring we could help more families in our community.
You guys did what you needed to to do to be able to make content! You have to think about your audience as well as yourselves and your staff! This is your job and wellbeing so never feel bad to keeping your business afloat! It’s hard to know what’s gonna work until you try it! I think you guys handled this so well and really made changes when it didn’t go well. We know that your heart is in it and that you could easily leave to go make more money yet working for someone else. I love that you want to make this show accessible to everyone but you also need to value your work and time as well. People would never except a streaming service or sporting event to be free. Your content has value. Don’t sell yourselves short.