Event
YouTube will increase the requirements for its Partner Program starting 1 February 2027. Creators must now achieve 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. This doubles the previous watch hour requirement of 4,000 and raises the Shorts view threshold from 10 million. Existing members must accept the new terms by 31 January 2027.
2 published stories · artificial-intelligence · source reliability 0%
New applicants must now meet doubled watch hour and Shorts view requirements to qualify for ad revenue, while existing partners face regular posting mandates to retain status.
Background
YouTube is tightening eligibility criteria for its YouTube Partner Program (YPP), effective 1 February 2027, to align with its broader strategy of positioning itself as a premium streaming service competing with platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney Plus. The updated thresholds require creators to maintain 1,000 subscribers alongside either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the past 12 months or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. These figures represent a doubling of the previous watch hour requirement (from 4,000) and a significant increase in the Shorts view threshold (from 10 million). The move coincides with the expansion of YouTube’s 'Premium Lite' subscription tier and new maintenance rules designed to ensure consistent content output, including requirements to upload specific volumes of long-form or Shorts content every 90 days.
YouTube is tightening eligibility criteria for its YouTube Partner Program (YPP), effective 1 February 2027, to align with its broader strategy of positioning itself as a premium streaming service competing with platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney Plus. The updated thr
Fact cards
Key entities: YouTube, Trevor Noah, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Premium Lite.
Prior to 1 February 2027: Previous YPP thresholds were 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 watch hours (past year) or 10 million Shorts views (past 90 days). 1 February 2027: New monetisation thresholds take effect: 8,000 qualified watch hours or 20 million qualified Shorts views. 31 Ja
Timeline
Previous YPP thresholds were 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 watch hours (past year) or 10 million Shorts views (past 90 days).
New monetisation thresholds take effect: 8,000 qualified watch hours or 20 million qualified Shorts views.
Deadline for existing YPP members to accept the new terms to retain monetisation privileges.
Maintenance requirements enforce uploads of two long-form videos or five Shorts every 90 days, or 1 million Shorts views/1,000 watch hours annually.