diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/tasks.py b/tubearchivist/home/tasks.py
index 20b50b0..5b220a1 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/tasks.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/tasks.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import os
 from celery import Celery, shared_task
 from home.src.config import AppConfig
 from home.src.download import ChannelSubscription, PendingList, VideoDownloader
-from home.src.helper import RedisArchivist, RedisQueue
+from home.src.helper import RedisArchivist, RedisQueue, UrlListParser
 from home.src.index_management import backup_all_indexes, restore_from_backup
 from home.src.reindex import (
     ManualImport,
@@ -169,8 +169,9 @@ def rescan_filesystem():
 
 
 @shared_task
-def subscribe_to(youtube_ids):
+def subscribe_to(url_str):
     """take a list of urls to subscribe to"""
+    youtube_ids = UrlListParser(url_str).process_list()
     for youtube_id in youtube_ids:
         if youtube_id["type"] == "video":
             to_sub = youtube_id["url"]
@@ -185,3 +186,7 @@ def subscribe_to(youtube_ids):
             channel_id_sub, channel_subscribed=True
         )
         print("subscribed to: " + channel_id_sub)
+        # notify
+        RedisArchivist().set_message(
+            "progress:subscribe", {"status": "subscribing"}
+        )
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/channel.html b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/channel.html
index 9ad90c3..f83c5ea 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/channel.html
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/channel.html
@@ -7,15 +7,19 @@
 </div>
 <div class="info-box info-box-2">
     <div class="icon-text">
-        <img id="add-icon" onclick="showForm()" src="{% static 'img/icon-add.svg' %}" alt="add-icon">
-        <p>Subscribe to Channels</p>
-        <div class="show-form">
-            <form id="hidden-form" action="/channel/" method="post">
-                {% csrf_token %}
-                {{ subscribe_form }}
-                <button type="submit">Subscribe</button>
-            </form>
-        </div>
+        {% if running == "subscribing" %}
+            <p>Subscribing in progress, refresh.</p>
+        {% else %}
+            <img id="add-icon" onclick="showForm()" src="{% static 'img/icon-add.svg' %}" alt="add-icon">
+            <p>Subscribe to Channels</p>
+            <div class="show-form">
+                <form id="hidden-form" action="/channel/" method="post">
+                    {% csrf_token %}
+                    {{ subscribe_form }}
+                    <button type="submit">Subscribe</button>
+                </form>
+            </div>
+        {% endif %}
     </div>
     <div class="search-form icon-text">
         <div class="search-icon">
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/views.py b/tubearchivist/home/views.py
index 3943b91..a2e6130 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/views.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/views.py
@@ -497,6 +497,7 @@ class ChannelView(View):
             "title": "Channels",
             "colors": view_config["colors"],
             "view_style": view_config["view_style"],
+            "running": view_config["running"],
         }
         return render(request, "home/channel.html", context)
 
@@ -506,6 +507,7 @@ class ChannelView(View):
         config_handler = AppConfig(user_id)
         view_key = f"{user_id}:view:channel"
         view_style = RedisArchivist().get_message(view_key)["status"]
+        running = RedisArchivist().get_message("progress:subscribe")["status"]
         if not view_style:
             view_style = config_handler.config["default_view"]["channel"]
 
@@ -517,6 +519,7 @@ class ChannelView(View):
             "view_style": view_style,
             "show_subed_only": show_subed_only,
             "colors": config_handler.colors,
+            "running": running,
         }
 
         return view_config
@@ -526,10 +529,12 @@ class ChannelView(View):
         """handle http post requests"""
         subscribe_form = SubscribeToChannelForm(data=request.POST)
         if subscribe_form.is_valid():
+            RedisArchivist().set_message(
+                "progress:subscribe", {"status": "subscribing"}
+            )
             url_str = request.POST.get("subscribe")
-            youtube_ids = UrlListParser(url_str).process_list()
-            print(youtube_ids)
-            subscribe_to.delay(youtube_ids)
+            print(url_str)
+            subscribe_to.delay(url_str)
 
         sleep(1)
         return redirect("channel", permanent=True)