diff --git a/twitchdl/commands/download.py b/twitchdl/commands/download.py
index 2d563b8..6819ac3 100644
--- a/twitchdl/commands/download.py
+++ b/twitchdl/commands/download.py
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ def _download_video(video_id, args):
         args.overwrite = True
 
     print_out("<dim>Fetching access token...</dim>")
-    access_token = twitch.get_access_token(video_id)
+    access_token = twitch.get_access_token(video_id, auth_token=args.auth)
 
     print_out("<dim>Fetching playlists...</dim>")
     playlists_m3u8 = twitch.get_playlists(video_id, access_token)
diff --git a/twitchdl/console.py b/twitchdl/console.py
index f9031e3..0f31d68 100644
--- a/twitchdl/console.py
+++ b/twitchdl/console.py
@@ -176,6 +176,13 @@ COMMANDS = [
                 "help": "Video quality, e.g. 720p. Set to 'source' to get best quality.",
                 "type": str,
             }),
+            (["-a", "--auth"], {
+                "help": "Authentication token, passed to Twitch to access subscriber only "
+                        "VODs. Can be copied from the 'auth_token' cookie in any browser "
+                        "logged in on Twitch.",
+                "type": str,
+                "default": None,
+            }),
             (["--no-join"], {
                 "help": "Don't run ffmpeg to join the downloaded vods, implies --keep.",
                 "action": "store_true",