The YouTube platform has announced a significant adjustment to the terms of its Partner Program (YPP). From February 1, 2027, the viewership requirements for new creators to start monetizing content will double. The company justifies this move by stating its aim to better reward active creators within the growing digital economy.
To enter the program, new applicants will need to demonstrate 8,000 hours of watch time over the past 12 months, an increase from the current four thousand. For creators focusing on YouTube Shorts, the limit increases from 10 million to 20 million views within 90 days. The condition of at least one thousand subscribers remains unchanged. The new limits will not affect existing program members.
New limits for Shorts format too
In addition to entry barriers, YouTube is also introducing a performance minimum for revenue sharing from Shorts videos. Even creators who are already in the Partner Program will need to generate at least 10 million views on short videos over three months to keep monetization active for this format.
“With over 3 million creators in the program, we are making the first significant changes since 2018 to ensure the YPP continues to lead the creator economy,” YouTube stated in its official announcement.
If a channel falls below the 10 million views threshold for Shorts, it will not lose its program membership and can continue to earn from classic long-form videos. Revenue sharing for the short format will automatically resume once the set target is reached again.
Expansion of the cheaper subscription
Part of the changes also includes the global expansion of the Premium Lite tier. This cheaper subscription model will be available in all markets where the standard Premium version operates. In the US, the price is set at $8.99, while the full version costs $15.99 per month. The Lite version primarily focuses on ad reduction in videos but does not include YouTube Music Premium.
- Increased watch time threshold to 8,000 hours annually.
- New target of 20 million views for Shorts format for new members.
- Introduction of minimum performance for earnings from short videos.
- Global expansion of the Premium Lite tier for viewers.
YouTube also plans to introduce new incentive programs for smaller channels that are just approaching the monetization threshold. These are intended to include bonuses within YouTube Shopping or support for securing brand partnerships.