YouTube is preparing to make it harder for new creators to earn money from advertising on the platform.
From February 1, 2027, creators applying for the main YouTube Partner Programme monetisation tier will need to meet significantly higher performance requirements.
The subscriber requirement will remain at 1,000 subscribers, but the watch-time and Shorts-view requirements will double.
Creators will need either 8,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months or 20 million qualified Shorts views within 90 days to qualify for advertising and YouTube Premium revenue sharing.
Watch-Time Requirement Doubles to 8,000 Hours
Under the existing rules, creators need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours to access the main advertising monetisation tier.
From February 2027, that watch-time requirement will increase to 8,000 hours.
This means creators focusing on long-form videos will need to build a much larger and more consistent audience before they can start receiving a share of advertising revenue.
For smaller channels that are currently working towards the 4,000-hour target, the change could make monetisation considerably more difficult.
Shorts Creators Will Also Face a Higher Target
Creators relying on Shorts will see the requirement double as well.
Instead of the current 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, new applicants will need 20 million qualified Shorts views within 90 days to qualify for advertising revenue sharing.
YouTube is also introducing an ongoing requirement for Shorts revenue.
Creators will need to repeatedly reach 10 million qualified Shorts views during a rolling 90-day period to continue earning advertising and subscription revenue from Shorts.
If a channel later falls below this number, it can remain part of the YouTube Partner Programme and continue earning from eligible long-form content.
Shorts revenue can resume once the required view target is reached again.
Existing YouTube Partners Won’t Lose Monetisation
Creators who are already part of the YouTube Partner Programme will not suddenly be removed because of the new, higher entry requirements.
They will be grandfathered into the programme.
However, existing partners will need to accept YouTube’s updated terms through YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027 to continue earning.
Existing partners will also have to meet certain ongoing activity requirements, which can include minimum watch hours, Shorts views or publishing activity.
The Lower Monetisation Tier Is Not Changing
There is some good news for smaller creators.
YouTube’s lower monetisation tier will continue with the existing requirements.
Creators can access features such as Super Thanks, channel memberships and YouTube Shopping with:
500 subscribers
3 public uploads within 90 days
Either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views
This means smaller channels can still earn money through fan support and shopping features even if they have not yet reached the much higher requirements for advertising revenue.
YouTube Is Pushing Creators Towards Other Income Sources
YouTube says the changes come as its creator ecosystem continues to grow rapidly.
The platform says Shorts now generate around 200 billion views every day, while more than a billion hours of YouTube content are watched on television screens each day.
With advertising becoming harder for new creators to access, YouTube is highlighting other ways to earn.
These include Shopping bonuses, brand-deal rewards, memberships and milestone-based incentives.
This could mean that smaller creators will increasingly need to focus on commerce, fan support and brand partnerships before they qualify for advertising revenue.
What Does This Mean for New Creators?
The new rules could make the race for YouTube monetisation much more competitive.
For example, a creator with 600 subscribers can still use some features such as memberships and shopping if they meet the lower-tier requirements.
But getting a share of advertising revenue will require significantly more audience engagement.
Creators who are currently close to the existing monetisation requirements may therefore want to pay close attention to the February 1, 2027 deadline.
YouTube has already paid more than $100 billion to creators, artists and media companies over the past four years.
With millions of creators competing for viewers, the platform is now raising the bar for access to its advertising revenue pool.
For new creators, building a loyal audience and diversifying income sources could become more important than ever.
