YouTube has announced stricter requirements for new creators seeking to earn money through its platform. Under the new policy, creators applying to join the YouTube Partner Programme will need to achieve higher watch-time or Shorts-view targets before they can start earning through advertisements and YouTube Premium.
According to the information provided, the new requirements will apply to creators submitting new applications to join the YouTube Partner Programme from February 1, 2027.
Under the new policy, creators will need to complete 8,000 eligible watch hours over the previous 365 days or achieve 20 million eligible YouTube Shorts views within the previous 90 days to qualify for advertising and YouTube Premium revenue.
Previously, creators were required to achieve 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views to earn advertising revenue through the YouTube Partner Programme. This means both the watch-hour and Shorts-view thresholds have been doubled under the new requirements.
However, YouTube has not changed the minimum subscriber requirement. Creators applying under the new rules will still need at least 1,000 subscribers to join the YouTube Partner Programme.
The change will directly affect new YouTube creators who plan to launch channels and start earning through advertisements as quickly as possible. They will now need to reach a larger audience and generate significantly more watch time or Shorts views before they can begin earning regular income from YouTube.
The YouTube Partner Programme is an important source of income for creators worldwide, with millions earning revenue from advertisements displayed on their videos and other monetisation sources.
For new creators, the policy means that reaching 1,000 subscribers alone will no longer be enough. Their videos will also need to attract a substantial number of views. Shorts creators, in particular, will have to achieve the required view target within 90 days, while creators producing long-form videos will need to meet the watch hour requirement over the previous year.
Following the change, producing high-quality and consistent content will become even more important for new YouTubers. Without generating significant views and watch time within the required period, reaching the advertising revenue stage could become more difficult.
However, creators seeking to earn money through YouTube should also understand that views and subscribers alone are not sufficient. They must comply with YouTube’s policies on content quality, copyright, Community Guidelines and other monetisation requirements.
If the new policy takes effect on February 1, 2027, creators submitting new YouTube Partner Programme applications after that date will need to achieve performance targets that are roughly twice as high as the previous requirements to qualify for advertising revenue.
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