As you've cited in your "How to Use Squad Stream" post: "We are rolling Squad Stream out to Partners first because of the need for video quality options (also known as transcodes) in order to ensure the best experience for viewers. Currently, all Twitch Partners receive video quality options on their streams by default, while Affiliates receive them as they're available, with priority access. Our plan is to make Squad Stream available to Affiliates and all other streamers as we continue expanding our transcodes capacity."

Many affiliates get transcodes already and should be able to Squad Stream, so I want so suggest the following:

1. Allow Affiliates with transcodes to create Squad Streams with each other. If they don't have transcodes, post a little notification that you're still rolling out transcodes and this feature is still in testing (because technically it is)




2. Allow Affiliates and Partners to Squad Stream with each other if eligible (i.e.
   have transcodes).

Hope to be able to Squad Stream with my friends soon :)

Collaborative events have proven to be one of the best methods for streamers to connect with more viewers. While they aren't necessary to have for all streamers to succeed, they serve as a great means for viewers to see their favorite creators team up to deliver great content that they would otherwise be unable to do alone. Please consider implementing the follow ideas:

1. Enable squad streams for Affiliates
   Viewers will not need to rely on the use of third-party applications such as multistre.am to be able to view video feeds from all collaborating streamers.




2. Merging chat boxes for all streamers participating in squad streams
   There are moments when streamers exchange dialogue with their viewers in their own respective chat boxes. By merging chat boxes, viewers tuning in to the squad stream will not need to bounce between chat boxes to obtain context behind said dialogue and can more easily become involved and engage in chat.

In DOTA and M:TG at least, there is a growing trend of community figures re-streaming a sponsored tournament to provide their own commentary. This can lead to the main broadcast of an event having only a plurality of the real view count. DOTA is trying to solve the Advertiser side of this by requiring restreams to adhere to rules about overlays and advertising inclusion.

However, something official that groups all streams of an event together would be helpful. When I browse a game and see at the top: LIVE: 'game' Regional Qualifiers Finals! as perhaps a banner with the combined viewcount of restreams, that gives the event real importance, whereas currently in some games a large individual streamer who is not even participating might have higher viewcount than each of the event's streams separately, implying the event is not that worthwhile to a browser.

This could actually perhaps build off the Watch Party format? Instead it would be a watch party of the main stream, giving that stream the views that would otherwise be spread across many re-streamers.