A NEW streaming service has been launched for fans of the paranormal.
Friends Ben Kennerley and Ian Diver have been shocked by the success of their new platform for paranormal content creators, Para Stream.
Since launching at the end of September, more than 700 hours of content have been uploaded by around 50 different creators.
Ben, from Weaverham, said: “It’s ridiculous how fast things have moved.
“Our company has just shot out of nowhere. I think this industry was just ready for it.
“In school, both me and Ian were told we would never amount to anything.
"So, for us it’s about proving a point that no matter where you come from and what people tell you, if you’ve got an ambition and do everything you can to achieve it, you can make it.
“You will never know unless you go for it.”
Ben’s interest in the paranormal began when he was visiting a friend who used to live above the Lord Eldon pub in Knutsford.
He recalls being creeped out by his friend’s roommate, who was standing outside and knocking on the door as he went to the toilet.
However, it turned out Ben’s friend didn’t have a roommate and that he had actually gone out to his car when this happened.
Realising they had a common interest, in February Ben and Winsford resident Ian decided to launch BIB (Believe in Better) Paranormal.
On Saturday, September 28, they held the first Northwich Para-Con, at Winnington Park Recreation Club, during which they launched Para Stream.
The event proved to be a bigger hit than they could ever have expected, with 500 tickets sold making it the biggest paranormal convention in the UK.
Next year the event will take place over two days (September 6 and 7) with tickets going on sale on Friday, November 1.
Ben said: “We want to get to the point where we’re attracting 20,000 people and guest speakers from all across the world.”
Asked why it has proved so popular, he added: “I think the paranormal is such a unique topic and a lot of people don’t like talking about it, but everyone wants to know the answer.
“Everyone’s got that wonder. It’s very easy to shut something down and say it doesn’t exist but every single person, sceptic or not, has sat there and seen something in the corner of our eye and jumped.
“It’s a choice, you get to choose whether you believe it or not.”
Since launching at Para-Con, Para Stream has attracted creators from afar afield as Japan, Australia, and the United States, covering everything from ghosts, Big Foot, UFOs and ancient creatures.
For viewers, the service costs just 99p a month, which all goes to the creators.
Ben said: “For me and Ian, it's not about the money but the community.”
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