Sell subscriptions with your own Stripe account
Are you launching a streaming service that sells directly to viewers? Then you need a way to take card payments before the first subscriber signs up. The ModernTV platform can now be connected to the operator's own Stripe account, so subscription payments run through Stripe.
Built because a customer asked for it
The first service on Stripe sells subscriptions directly to viewers in several countries. The operator wanted a payment provider it already knew and trusted, so we added Stripe to the platform. Stripe works in many countries and currencies, and pays out directly to the operator's own bank account. The service already takes live payments, and we are now preparing Stripe for more operators.
On Monday morning, the operator's finance team opens its own Stripe dashboard and sees every payment from the weekend, with the date it will be paid out.
What operators get
- Their own Stripe account. Payments land in the operator's account, under its own Stripe contract and settings.
- One place for pricing. The operator sets prices, promotions and renewals in the ModernTV admin it already uses. There is no second price list to keep in sync in Stripe.
- Saved cards. Subscribers can let the service remember their card for the next purchase.
- Card checks for free trials. When a service offers a free start, Stripe verifies and saves the card without charging it.
- More ways to pay. Besides cards, the Stripe checkout page can offer Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and local payment methods. Each operator chooses which ones to switch on in its own Stripe account. What is available depends on where the operator and its customers are.
Who it is for
Stripe fits services that sell to viewers on their own website and take card payments: a new OTT brand, a service for viewers abroad, or a sports or niche channel sold on subscription. Operators who bill subscribers on their own invoice keep doing so.
How it works
Subscribers buy on the operator's website. The checkout sends them to Stripe, which handles card data and authentication. The ModernTV platform then activates the package and tracks each billing cycle. Card numbers never touch the operator's own servers.
In the TV and mobile apps, viewers buy through in-app purchases, as we described in In-app Purchases: Turn the big match into a one-tap upgrade.
Want Stripe on your service? Request a demo.
FAQ
Do I need my own Stripe account?
Yes. The ModernTV platform is connected to the operator's own account, so payments go directly to the operator.
Can subscribers pay with Stripe inside the TV app?
No. Stripe checkout runs on the operator's website. In the apps, subscribers can use in-app purchases.
Do existing subscribers need to do anything when I switch to Stripe from another gateway?
Yes. Saved card tokens cannot be transferred between gateways, so subscribers enter their card once more on their next payment.
Do subscriptions renew automatically?
Yes, subscriptions renew automatically. The ModernTV platform runs the billing cycle and charges the saved card through Stripe.
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