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It might surprise you, but there are several fans who enjoy watching creators watch other things. Watchalong live streams answer a need for communal viewing, allowing fans to connect to other enthusiasts. For fans of TV shows, sports, and pop culture, watchalongs can be more engaging than the original broadcast. They can often be a way to build an online community of enthusiasts.
Watchalongs are live streams where audiences ‘watch along’ with a creator or commentator as they react and talk about another piece of media. You can find watchalong channels on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and other platforms, featuring a broad range of genres – from UFC matches to James Bond movie marathons.
People love watchalongs because they’re an authentic, interactive, and even validating experience. They can connect to someone who is as excited about something as they are, often sharing their opinions. A watchalong streamer’s reactions can also help viewers overcome social anxiety and share their opinions with other fans in the live chat.
Watchalongs are also great for live streamers, since it has many of the same benefits as live video podcasts. It takes away a lot of the necessary scripting of streaming, and avoids the awkwardness of a one-way conversation. You’re also not necessarily building a brand-new fanbase from scratch, but simply connecting with other people who love the same things you do.
Here are some ideas for your first watchalong live stream:
Invite followers and subscribers to watch along with you as you react to trailer reels of upcoming movies or video games. If you’re a gamer, get your viewers hyped up as you share your excitement and trepidation for the year’s most anticipated releases – especially ones you plan on streaming.
If you’re not a gaming streamer, broadcast a watchalong of all movie trailers released at Comicon, and invite your viewers to add their thoughts and theories to the live chat. Respond to their messages with your own predictions and opinions to keep the conversation going.
A sports watchalong channel may offer pre and post-game analysis alongside live commentary of the game – essentially allowing your audience to watch a podcast alongside the game. Although watching someone else react to a sporting event is far from traditional sports viewing, it still attracts several hardcore sports fans.
Several soccer fans prefer getting their sports analysis from streamers they like over professional commentators. It can be validating to hear someone share the same opinions as you. Often, it’s as much about the streamer as it is about the sport itself. A soccer watchalong live stream can feel more authentic and genuine, and overall easier to connect with.
Watchalongs also include real-time reactions to films and TV shows. You don’t have to stick to what’s hot, new and trending. Some of the most popular watchalong podcasts focus on cult classics, critically acclaimed shows, or nostalgic hits like Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Whatever you choose, you’ll scratch the particular itch people get when they want to talk about their latest obsession, but nobody in their life is watching that film or show anymore. Give them that outlet by sharing your breakdown of what’s happening in real time.
During a movie or TV show watchalong, you can talk about what you think is going to happen, and then react to what eventually unfolds. Break down the narrative structures, plot points, character development, and share your personal thoughts and frustrations.
There are a few things to consider when planning your first watchalong stream. If you decide to show some of what you’re watching on screen, some platforms may remove or demonetize your content due to copyright issues – especially with live sports. However, most watchalong streams don’t display footage of what’s being viewed, so most viewers won’t expect you to broadcast footage for them.
You might also have to do a few trial runs to make sure that there are no technical hiccups, like delays between audio and video. Experiment with different streaming layouts, and add streaming graphics to highlight key points and boost production value. (Here at overlays.uno, we have a wide range of free animated stream overlays that can be edited in real time.)
If you’re looking for more tips and tricks on how to run a watchalong live stream, or how to figure out the technical aspects of your setup, join our Discord community to get advice and support.
