YouTube Doubles Watch Hours for New Monetization

Core News & Key Facts

YouTube is increasing the audience requirements for new creators who want to earn money through its monetization programs. Under the updated rules announced by the company, creators applying to begin monetizing will need at least 8,000 qualified watch hours over the previous 12 months or 20 million qualified Shorts views during the last 90 days.

The new annual watch-hour requirement represents a major increase from the existing 4,000-hour threshold. The current eligibility structure also requires creators to have 1,000 subscribers. The changes are scheduled to take effect from February 1 and are aimed at new creators seeking access to YouTube's monetization system.

Context & Statements

YouTube said the changes are being introduced to keep pace with the rapid growth of the platform. The company says YouTube now records more than 200 billion Shorts views every day, while viewers watch more than one billion hours of content on television each day.

The platform is also changing the requirements for creators earning through the Shorts Creators Pool. Creators will need to maintain at least 10 million Shorts views during a 90-day period to continue receiving revenue through the pool. Channels that fall below the threshold will remain part of the YouTube Partner Program and can continue earning from eligible long-form content. Shorts revenue can resume after the channel reaches 10 million views again.

YouTube clarified that creators already participating in the YouTube Partner Program will not be affected by the new entry requirements.

Impact & What's Next

The higher thresholds are expected to make monetization more challenging for emerging creators, particularly those relying heavily on Shorts to build audiences. Creators will need to consistently generate substantial viewing numbers before qualifying for platform-based earnings.

Alongside the monetization changes, YouTube is expanding its Premium Lite subscription to all markets where YouTube Premium is available. Creators receive a share of subscription revenue based on member watch time and views, with 55% allocated to long-form creators and 45% to Shorts creators.

YouTube said partners can, on average, earn more when viewers become Premium subscribers than when those users watch advertisements. Premium Lite provides an ad-free experience on most videos, along with offline downloads and background playback.

The move comes as other social platforms also adjust creator-reward systems. X has revised its creator payouts to focus on original content, while Facebook has introduced a monetization program aimed at attracting creators from TikTok and YouTube.