One of YouTube's Biggest Membership Communities is Using Uscreen to Build Its Own Streaming App.
Caleb Hammer has one of the largest creator membership communities on YouTube called the Hammer Elite. Needless to say, he makes a lot through YouTube alone. One might even think he wouldn't need to go anywhere else.
So what made Caleb Hammer–and Theorists before him—choose Uscreen for memberships?
The move to Uscreen is a deliberate choice for more control, better monetization, and a viewing experience YouTube can't replicate.
Want to turn your YouTube audience into paying members? Uscreen lets you build your own membership site, launch an app, and keep more of what you earn.
Caleb Hammer launches a dedicated Hammer Elite app, powered by Uscreen
Members get a dedicated streaming home built around the Financial Audit world. Organized show hubs, a binge-worthy content library, expanded archives, and a viewing experience that works across devices.
There are two ways in: through YouTube Membership, or the full premium experience on the dedicated app by Uscreen.
To celebrate the launch, Hammer Elite is offering a 30% discount on annual memberships until the end of June. The first 1,000 superfans can grab a Hammer For Life Merch Box.
"Our community shows up for the real conversations, the chaos, and the moments that go deeper than the episode itself. Hammer Elite is where we get to give them more of all of that. More episodes, more access, more of the team, and an experience built specifically for the audience that made Financial Audit what it is today."
- Caleb Hammer
The Hammer Elite app launches with 8 original shows, each one extending a different corner Financial Audit universe:
- Post Show: The conversation that picks up where Financial Audit ends, with deeper reactions, producer perspectives, behind-the-scene stories, and the kind of unfiltered moments YouTube doesn't always allow.
- Audit Update: A return visit with past Financial Audit guests to see what's actually changed since their episode, from financial wins to setbacks to complete life spirals.
- Audit Breakdown: Caleb, Lindsey, Brandon, and Mika unpack how the biggest Financial Audit episodes came together, what didn't make the cut, and what happened after filming.
- Member's Exclusive Financial Audit: A full uncensored Financial Audit made exclusively for Hammer Elite. No ads, no bleeps, no holding back.
- Behind the Scenes: Brandon's unscripted look at what actually happens when filming stops, from office vlogs to candid moments with the team.
- Dating Audit: Financial Audit, but for your dating profile. Brandon and Lindsey roast bad photos, cringey bios, and desperate prompts, then explain what actually works.
- Budget Buddies: Brandon and Tyler test experiences at every price point, from the absolute cheapest to ridiculous luxury, to figure out what's worth the money.
- Hammer It Out: Caleb's official live call-in show, with real callers, real financial emergencies, and real drama.
"This is part of the show our community has been asking for. Hammer Elite gives us room to actually go deeper with these guests, get into the conversations that didn't fit, and bring the audience along for everything that happens around the show. It's still Financial Audit at the core. There' just more way of it."
- Caleb Hammer
Hammer Elite 4.0 is now live at https://hammerelite.com.
What Uscreen does that YouTube doesn't.
Although YouTube has been giving more focus to YouTube TV and letting viewers experience their favorite channels right on their couch, it's still doesn't give creators enough control and exclusivity.
YouTube's Community and Copyrights Guidelines on the surface seems like it's there to keep the space in order and safe... but it's mainly there to make sure advertisers aren't going to go away. Because of that, you have to follow the Guidelines if you want to stay monetized and you'd have to toss aside the ideas that you really want to do, but can't because you know it won't do well on the platform.
Everyone can head onto YouTube and watch whatever catches their attention, but only members of Hammer Elite can access the dedicated app. This allows Hammer Elite to flourish based on their community and not rely on YouTube's algorithm.
There's a Community and Membership for any kind of niche
"Memberships wouldn't work for my type of content."
This was something we've heard a lot of our KDCC members say. They've come to the understanding that if your niche isn't popular, then it won't work—something that's out of the norm.
But that's simply not the truth.
Whether your niche is in finance, drywall, claypot making, or anything that doesn't seem to fit into membership, you have the same chance to create a thriving community and membership as someone who creates in well-known niches.
Who would pay for a financial audit membership? Apparently, a lot of people. Caleb Hammer's Hammer Elite is one of the biggest creator Memberships on YouTube.
You wouldn't think a channel all about drywall (Paul Peck DrywallTube) to have over 300k subscribers and over 65 million views.
If a pottery membership called Clayshare can make $30k a month, your niche has no excuse.
YouTube is the biggest media platform with millions of viewers logging in every single day. There will always be a viewer who's interested in your niche and viewers who never knew they'd like it until they saw you.
YouTube is the front door to your community
Millions of viewers walk through YouTube every day. Your channel is a door they can walk into. Get even a fraction of them to stay, and you have the beginning of a community.
"The biggest creators today are building more engaged audiences through platforms they own while continuing to grow on YouTube. Hammer Elite is a textbook case of what that looks like when it's done right: YouTube as the front door, and the Uscreen app as the more immersive, unfiltered behind-the-scenes experience."
- Allison Yazdian, CEO of Uscreen
YouTube can be a funnel into your membership, community, newsletter, etc. Give them a free viewing experience. Get them wanting more.
YouTube's the front door, and Uscreen is the house.
Ready to build yours? Start here 👇
Ike
