It is clear to me that this is a hunt for investment

I can't see it any other way. They couldn't pull investment on YouTube, so they are making their own platform hoping to show profitability on their own, hoping to attract investors. They want to make "high quality TV style programming" they will not have the funding for that without deep investment from their community OR outside funding.

Dropout did it, because they got LUCKY. Their fans were and are willing to cross the youtube line. Watcher won't be that lucky.

It wouldn't surprise me if they get acquired in a couple years if they don't fail now