Gated Content Overview

Gated Content is a video hosting feature that allows you to monetize livestreams and video uploads by requiring viewers to purchase a pass to view. Gated Content Passes can be configured to allow access to individual videos or groups of videos on your Collection(s). Learn how to set up Gated Content on your Switcher account to begin earning money with a new revenue stream.

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Gated Content Requirements

  • An active Business or Merchant plan with Switcher
  • A valid Stripe account for processing transactions (created during the setup process)
  • A valid bank account for collecting payouts

Gated Content Viewer Experience

Viewers can easily purchase and gain access to your Gated Content. They'll start by clicking on your video player, where they'll see a notice that a purchase is needed to view the content.

Purchasing Content For The First Time

To proceed, they'll click the "Subscribe" option in the top-right corner of the player's window:

Next, they'll be asked to enter in their email address.

Lastly, they'll enter in their payment information.

They'll now have access to your content and be able to watch it throughout the life of their subscription (or forever, if this window is set up for a one-time purchase rather than a subscription).

Restoring Past Purchases

If your viewer has already purchased this content and should still have use of it (i.e. they did not purchase a subscription that has lapsed), they can restore their access to it.

At the bottom of the player's window, they'll want to click on the text for "Restore Your Access".

Then, they'll enter in their email address, and their access (if valid) will be restored!

Ways to Use Gated Content

One-Time Passes

Creating a pass for a single video is a great option for live performances or sporting events. This allows you to generate payouts on a per-video basis. There is no limit to the amount of passes you can create, so you can designate a unique Pass for every video on your Collections Playlist(s). Check out How to Create a One-Time Pass to learn more.

Subscription Passes

Subscriptions allow you to sell access to your existing and upcoming video content on a recurring basis. Passes can be purchased monthly or annually depending on how you would like to configure your Collections. After purchasing the pass, the pass holder will have access to all existing and new content associated with the pass. Check out How to Create a Subscription Pass to learn more.

Gated Content Fees

One-Time Passes

For each Pass purchase of Gated Content with your Collections, Switcher users incur fees for each Pass purchase. Switcher users are charged $0.99 USD + Stripe fees for each transaction.


Switcher Studio Transaction Fee: $0.99 USD

Switcher Studio charges users a $0.99 USD transaction fee each time a viewer purchases a Pass for Gated Content on a Collection.


Stripe Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 USD

When a viewer purchases a video through your Collection Player, the payment is securely processed by Stripe. Stripe charges a fee of 2.9% of the total transaction amount + $.30 USD per transaction.


Stripe Checkout Invoicing Fee: 0.4%

To utilize Stripe Checkout invoicing, Stripe charges a 0.4% fee on the transaction total. This fee has a maximum of $2 USD. There are additional settings that you may be enabled in your Stripe account settings. If enabled, additional fees may be incurred from Stripe. 


Combined Fees

To calculate the total fees associated with Gated Content purchases, you can add the fees charged by Switcher and Stripe.


For example, if a pass is $10, the total fees are calculated as follows:

  • Switcher Transaction Fee: $0.99
  • Stripe Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 of $10 = $.29 + $0.30 = $0.59
  • Stripe Checkout Invoice Fee: 0.4% of $10 = $0.04
  • Total Fees: $0.99 + $0.29 + $0.30 + $0.04 = $1.62
  • Net Payout (Purchase Price - Total Fees): $8.38

Subscription Passes

Switcher users incur fees for each Subscription purchase of Gated Content on their Collection. Subscriptions can be purchased on a monthly or annual recurring basis, which is set by the Switcher user. Below each fee type and the associated amount that is deducted from Subscription Pass purchases is explained.

Switcher Monthly Subscription Transaction Fee: $0.99 USD

Switcher charges users a $0.99 USD transaction fee each time a viewer’s monthly subscription renews for access to Gated Content on a Collection.

Switcher Annual Subscription Transaction Fee: $11.88 USD

Switcher charges users a $11.88 USD transaction fee each time a viewer’s annual subscription renews for access to Gated Content on a Collection.

Stripe Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 USD

When a viewer purchases a video through your Collections Player, the payment is securely processed by Stripe. Stripe charges a fee of 2.9% of the total transaction amount + $.30 USD per transaction.

Stripe Checkout Invoicing Fee: 0.4%

To utilize Stripe Checkout invoicing, Stripe charges a 0.4% fee on the transaction total. This fee has a maximum of $2 USD. There are additional settings that you may be enabled in your Stripe account settings. If enabled, additional fees may be incurred from Stripe. 

Stripe Billing Fee: 0.5%

To utilize Stripe Billing, Stripe charges a 0.5% fee on the transaction total. There are additional settings that you may be enabled in your Stripe account settings. If enabled, additional fees may be incurred from Stripe. 

Combined Fees

To calculate the total fees associated with Subscription purchases, you can add the fees charged by Switcher and Stripe.

For example, if a monthly subscription is $10, the total fees are calculated as follows:

  • Switcher Transaction Fee: $0.99
  • Stripe Processing Fee: 2.9% + ($0.30 of $10 = $.29 + $0.30): $0.59
  • Stripe Checkout Invoice Fee: 0.4% of $10: $0.04
  • Stripe Billing Fee: 0.7% of $10: $0.07
  • Total Fees: $0.99 + $0.29 + $0.30 + $0.04 + $0.05: $1.67
  • Net Payout (Purchase Price - Total Fees): $8.35

If an annual subscription is $100, the total fees are calculated as follows:

  • Switcher Transaction Fee: $11.88
  • Stripe Processing Fee: 2.9% + ($0.30 of $100 = $2.90 + $0.30): $3.20
  • Stripe Checkout Invoice Fee: 0.4% of $100: $0.40
  • Stripe Billing Fee: 0.7% of $100: $0.70
  • Total Fees: $11.88 + $0.29 + $0.30 + $0.04 + $0.05: $15.98

Net Payout (Purchase Price - Total Fees): $84.22

How To Set Up Your Stripe Account

Switcher utilizes Stripe to process pass purchases from Collections players. Before you create passes, add Gated Content, and collect payments, you will need to set up a Stripe account.


To create your Stripe account:

  • Go to dashboard.switcherstudio.com in a web browser.
  • Log in with your Switcher account credentials.
  • Click your Switcher username in the left sidebar.
  • Click Gated Content.
  • Click Create Account in the Stripe Account section.
  • Complete the Stripe account creation form. Address, banking, Tax ID and additional information may be required.
  • Once you have created your Stripe account, you will be redirected to the Switcher Dashboard.

Note: You will need to create a new Stripe account through the Switcher Dashboard to use Gated Content. If you have an existing Stripe profile, this process will sync the account to your main profile.

How To Create A One-Time Pass

One-Time Passes are what viewers purchase to access a set video or playlist of videos in a Collection. You can follow the steps below to create a One-Time Pass in the Switcher Dashboard.

Note: If you would like to create a Subscription pass for access to existing and upcoming video content, check out How to Create a Subscription Pass.

To create a One-Time Pass:

  • Go to dashboard.switcherstudio.com in a web browser.
  • Log in with your Switcher account credentials.
  • Click your Switcher username in the left sidebar.
  • Click Gated Content.
  • Click the Passes tab.
  • Click Create a Pass.
  • Select One-Time.
  • Enter the pass Name.
  • Enter the pass amount in USD.
  • Click Create.

How To Create A Subscription Pass

To create a Subscription Pass:

  • Log in to your Switcher Dashboard in a web browser.
  • Click Gated Content in the left sidebar.
  • Click Create a Pass.
  • Enter the name of the pass.
  • Select Subscription.
  • Select monthly and/or annual payment options.
  • Enter the monthly and/or annual costs.
  • Click Select Collections.
  • Select the Collections you would like to assign the subscription to.
  • Click Continue.
  • Click Create.
Note: Any previous Gated Content passes and associated purchases will not allow access to the content once a Subscription is applied. Only add a Subscription pass to video content you are sure will not negatively impact previous pass purchasers.

How To Upload A Gated Content Video

Once you have a Pass created for the video you would like to use on your Collection(s) you can upload it to your Video Library in the Switcher Dashboard.


To upload a Gated Content video:

  • Go to dashboard.switcherstudio.com in a web browser.
  • Log in with your Switcher account credentials.
  • Click Video Library in the left sidebar.
  • Click Upload Video.
  • Click to upload.
  • Select a video file.
  • Enter the name and description.
  • Toggle on Show Video in Player.
  • Select the Collection(s).
  • Click Add to Collection.
  • Select the Collections you would like this video to appear on.
  • Click Add to Collection.
  • Toggle on Enable Gated Content.
  • Click Add Pricing.
  • Select a pass.
  • Click Add Pricing.
  • Click Upload.

How To Create A Gated Content Livestream

In order to make a livestream available with Gated content, you will first need to create the Pass you will want to use for your livestream. To learn how to create a Pass, read How to Create a Pass.


To make a Gated Content livestream:

  • Open the Switcher app.
  • Tap the Outputs tab. (box and arrow icon)
  • Tap Livestream.
  • Tap the blue arrow next to Video Catalog.
  • Choose your Scheduling preference: Go Live Now or Schedule for Later.
  • Enter the Stream Title.
  • Enter the Stream Description.
  • Select the Collection(s) you would like to stream to.
  • Toggle on Enable Gated Content.
  • Select a Pass.
  • Tap Save.
  • Tap the record button (red circle) in the top-right corner.

How To Assign A One-Time Pass To A Playlist Video

If you have an existing video on a Collection that you would like to add a pass to in order for viewers to access, you can update the settings from your Switcher Dashboard.


To assign a pass to a video on a Collection:

  • Go to dashboard.switcherstudio.com in a web browser.
  • Log in with your Switcher account credentials.
  • Click Collection in the left sidebar.
  • Click the Collection you would like to use.
  • Click Playlist under Collection Settings.
  • Click Add Pricing.
  • Select a pass.
  • Save your changes.

Gated Content FAQ


Q: What is the minimum price I can charge for a pass?

A: The minimum price for a pass is $2.00 USD. This limit is to protect you from losing costs from the associated fees per transaction. Read the Gated Content Fees section to learn more.


Q: How do I collect my earnings?

A: Stripe issues payouts to your bank account on a 2-day rolling basis. You can also opt to receive payouts weekly or monthly.


Q: How can a passholder restore their purchase if they lose access?

A: If a passholder loses access to your Gated Content, they can click Restore Purchase on the player, then enter the email address they used at the time of purchase. They will receive an email with a link that restores their access.


Q: How do I issue a refund?

A: You can issue a refund using your Stripe Dashboard. For more information, check out Refund and cancel payments on Stripe's support site.


Q: How do I resolve an issue with Gated Content?

A: You can read Resolving Gated Content Issues for some of our recommended resolution paths. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your Collection specifically, please reach out to support@switcherstudio.com.

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