YouTube Partner Program Updates: Platform Doubles Watch Hour Threshold to 8,000 Hours for New Creators; Check Details
YouTube is raising Partner Program entry requirements from February 2027. New creators need 1,000 subscribers and 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views. Existing members need 10 million Shorts views for Shorts revenue sharing. Premium Lite expands globally, with terms to accept by 31 January 2027.
YouTube is updating its Partner Program requirements to better align with current viewing habits and introduce new earning opportunities. Creators must review and accept the revised terms in YouTube Studio by 31 January 2027 to avoid any interruption in earnings. The changes take effect from 1 February 2027.
YouTube Partner Program New Entry Requirements
New applicants will need 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days. This doubles the previous watch hours threshold of 4,000 and the Shorts views threshold of 10 million. Existing YPP members are unaffected by the entry changes. YouTube Shorts Experience Updated; Check Details.
YouTube Partners Program Update on X
The YouTube Partner Program helps creators earn from their content and now includes over 3 million @YouTubeCreators. Starting in February 2027, we’re making three updates to the program — here’s what’s changing and what’s not:
What’s changing:
- More opportunity for… pic.twitter.com/ozi4MxQWKf
— Updates From YouTube (@UpdatesFromYT) August 10, 2026
YouTube Shorts Revenue Sharing Updates
Creators already in the programme will need 10 million qualified Shorts views over 90 days to continue earning ads and subscription revenue from Shorts. Falling below this figure does not remove a channel from YPP. Long form video earnings continue, and Shorts revenue sharing resumes once the threshold is met again.
YouTube Premium Lite Expansion
YouTube is expanding Premium Lite to all countries where Premium is available. Sixty per cent of Premium Lite net subscription revenue will go into the creator pool, shared at 55 per cent for long form content and 45 per cent for Shorts based on watch time and views. YouTube TV Plans 2026: Google-Owned Platform to Launch New Sports-Based Packages Early Next Year.
The updates aim to reward active creators while reflecting platform growth, including more than 200 billion daily Shorts views. Fan funding and shopping eligibility remain unchanged at lower thresholds.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 11, 2026 07:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
