YouTube just raised the bar for creators to earn ad revenue
New creators will face higher thresholds for ad revenue as YouTube changes how current partners earn money from Shorts.
YouTube plans to raise the bar for creators seeking ad revenue and YouTube Premium earnings. Starting February 1, 2027, new creators must accumulate 8,000 qualified watch hours or 20 million qualified Shorts views within 90 days. Both criteria are double the current requirements of 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. Creators with at least 1,000 subscribers remain unaffected.
Existing creators will need to maintain 10 million qualified Shorts views monthly to earn ad and subscription revenue. Those falling below the threshold can continue making money from long-form videos and will regain eligibility if views surpass the threshold. YouTube emphasizes that creators earning significant revenue from Shorts are unlikely to be impacted but does not disclose the number of such channels.
The updates represent the first major overhaul of the Partner Program since 2018, impacting more than 3 million creators. YouTube's business has grown significantly, especially in short-form video, with over 200 billion Shorts views daily, nearly triple the 70 billion daily views in 2024. Despite the tighter requirements, YouTube promises additional revenue streams for smaller channels, such as bonuses for YouTube Shopping, incentives for brand partnerships, and payments for creators who start or grow trends.
The lower tier of the Partner Program will remain unchanged, allowing creators with 500 subscribers and 3 public uploads within 90 days to qualify for fan-funding and shopping tools. Premium Lite is also expanding to every country with the full YouTube Premium subscription, with 60 percent of net Premium Lite subscription revenue placed in a dedicated pool for creators.
This pool receives 55 percent of revenue allocated to long-form videos and 45 percent allocated to Shorts, with creators earning more on average when subscribers subscribe to Premium than when they watch ads. YouTube expects to pay creators more in 2027 than in 2026 due to these updates, though it does not disclose its total 2026 payout or the number of channels that may experience Shorts revenue pauses.
The changes will become apparent when they are implemented next year, revealing whether YouTube's promise of increased earnings for smaller channels remains valid.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
