YouTube doubles watch-hour threshold for monetization starting February 2027
Starting February 1, 2027, YouTube will raise the bar for new creators joining its Partner Program. To monetize through ads and subscriptions, a channel will need 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days.
The current requirements are far lower: 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 watch hours per year or 10 million Shorts views over 90 days. This means the long-form video threshold doubles, while the Shorts requirement increases twofold as well. For payouts from the Shorts Creators Pool, creators will need to sustain 10 million Shorts views over 90 days, though dropping below that level won't result in removal from the program.
Existing program members will also face new conditions to keep earning. They must maintain either 1,000 watch hours over the past year, 1 million Shorts views, or upload two long-form videos or five Shorts every 90 days. YouTube's current policy already removes creators who haven't uploaded or posted content for at least six months. Active creators must accept the updated terms by January 31, 2027, or lose their ability to monetize.
These changes come alongside an expansion of the cheaper Premium Lite subscription, which will roll out to all countries where Premium is available. YouTube splits subscription revenue between creators based on watch time and views, allocating 55 percent to long-form content and 45 percent to Shorts. The company says creators will earn more as subscribers grow, since partners typically make more from a Premium user than from an ad-watching viewer.
The platform continues to pivot toward premium television, competing with Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney Plus. This year, YouTube struck deals to air shows featuring prominent hosts like Trevor Noah and launched a feature that lets creators organize videos into seasons. The stricter monetization rules appear to be part of this strategy, aimed at improving content quality and attracting more serious creators.
