Nick DiGiovanni’s YouTube Subathon: A Recipe for Record-Breaking Success YouTube chef and content creator Nick DiGiovanni (@NickDiGiovanni) is cooking up something unprecedented in the culinary niche—a week-long subathon inspired by Twitch’s engagement-driven marathons.
Running from February 2025, DiGiovanni’s subathon leverages YouTube Shorts to attract subscribers with daily incentives, blending philanthropy, exclusive giveaways, and viral content to fuel his channel’s growth.
Starting with 23.5 million subscribers, he’s already surpassed 24 million, setting his sights on a new record in the food creator space.
The subathon’s mechanics are simple yet innovative. Each day, DiGiovanni offers a unique incentive to encourage subscriptions.
On day one, he pledged to donate a meal to those in need via the Farmlink Project for every new subscriber, amplifying social impact (YouTube Shorts).
By day two, he upped the ante, giving away his coveted diamond play button—awarded for hitting 10 million subscribers — to a lucky fan (YouTube Shorts). These creative rewards keep viewers hooked, turning subscriptions into a daily event.
While subathons are a proven strategy on Twitch, where streamer Kai Cenat recently shattered records with 700,000 subscribers during a 30-day marathon (CNBC), DiGiovanni’s approach is a first for YouTube, especially in the Shorts format.
His team noted the inspiration from Twitch creators like Cenat and IShowSpeed, aiming to bring the same “appointment viewing” energy to YouTube’s short-form content (news.thepublishpress.com).
To claim the title of the largest food channel on YouTube, DiGiovanni needs to gain another 7.5 million subscribers, surpassing giants like Gordon Ramsay. His subathon isn’t just about numbers—it’s a celebration of community, with daily Shorts delivering high-energy challenges and rewards.
If successful, this could redefine audience engagement, making subathons a trend not only on streaming platforms but also in the fast-paced world of short-form video. DiGiovanni’s bold experiment might just set a new standard for creators, proving that a well-crafted subathon can be the secret ingredient to viral success.
