YouTube doubles monetization requirements, expands cheaper Premium Lite to all markets

YouTube has announced its first major overhaul of Partner Program requirements in years, significantly raising the bar for creators seeking monetization. Starting February 1, 2027, eligibility will require 8,000 watch hours over the past 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, plus 1,000 subscribers — up from the previous 4,000 watch hours and 10 million Shorts views.

Current Partner Program members will not be affected by the new thresholds, but all participants must accept the updated terms. The company said the stricter requirements will allow it to invest in new incentive programs that directly support creator growth and the various business models thriving on the platform.

At the same time, YouTube is teasing an expansion of its cheaper Premium Lite tier to all countries where standard Premium is available. Creators will receive 60% of net subscription revenue from Premium Lite, compared to 30% from regular Premium views. According to YouTube, creators on average earn more per user from Premium than from ads, based on 2026 performance data.

Premium Lite earnings will be included in standard Premium metrics within YouTube Analytics. The exact rollout timeline for the expanded subscription remains unclear. The company also reminded that Premium subscribers will get free access to Peacock in the coming months, while the app is testing invite-only chats and improved podcast playback for premium users.