Earning on YouTube set to become harder: Watch-hour requirement doubled for new creators..
YouTube has long been the most reliable source of income for content creators in the digital world. However, earning money from the platform is about to become more challenging. In response to the ever-growing number of creators and a massive surge in watch time, YouTube has significantly revamped its Partner Program. For the first time since 2018, the company has raised the monetization threshold so high that new creators will need to put in twice the effort to start earning from the platform.
YouTube notes that video watch time on the platform is steadily increasing. Shorts garner around 200 billion daily views, while over a billion hours of YouTube content are watched on TV screens every day. Amidst this rising activity, the company has made major changes to the terms of its Partner Program (YPP) for the first time since 2018.
What has changed for new creators?
Starting February 1, 2027, creators applying to the YouTube Partner Program will need to meet new criteria to qualify for ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing. According to YouTube, creators must now accumulate 8,000 watch hours over the past 365 days. Additionally, they must generate 20 million views on Shorts within a 90-day period.
Previously, the threshold was 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. However, the requirement for 1,000 subscribers remains unchanged. These new conditions will not apply to creators who are already part of the YPP.
New rule for earning from Shorts
YouTube has also introduced a new rule regarding Shorts monetization that could affect both existing and new creators. From February 1, to continue sharing in ad and subscription revenue from Shorts, a channel must achieve at least 10 million eligible Shorts views within any rolling 90-day period.
If a channel's views fall below this threshold, it will not be removed from the YPP. They will be able to continue earning from long-form videos, but earnings from Shorts will be paused until the channel once again reaches the milestone of 10 million views.
**Increased Earning Options for Small Creators**
YouTube has kept the entry-level tier of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) unchanged for now. Creators with 500 subscribers, three public uploads in 90 days, and either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views will be able to utilize monetization tools such as fan funding and shopping features.
Additionally, YouTube has announced plans to make 'Premium Lite' available in all countries where YouTube Premium is currently offered. In India, it is available for a monthly subscription fee of ₹89.
The company claims that Premium subscriptions can boost creator earnings. YouTube has also indicated that creator payouts in 2027 could exceed those of 2026.
Under the new framework, YouTube is planning to introduce further monetization options for small creators, including YouTube Shopping bonuses, brand deal incentives, and rewards for starting or driving trends.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
