YouTube now requires creators to have twice as many watch hours to start earning money
TechCrunch
β’Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:27:44 +0000
π° What Happened
YouTube announced that new creators will need at least 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days to begin earning from ads and subscriptions, doubling the prior long-form threshold, effective February 1.
π The Backstory
Currently creators need 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. The Shorts Creator Pool threshold also rises to 10 million views over 90 days, and the change does not affect existing Partner Program members. YouTube is also expanding its affordable Premium Lite subscription.
π― Why It Matters
Raising monetization thresholds makes it harder for new creators, especially Shorts-focused ones, to earn money on the platform, potentially reducing new entrants and signaling that YouTube is tightening the economics of its partner program.
YouTube announced that new creators will need at least 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days to begin earning from ads and subscriptions, doubling the prior long-form threshold, effective February 1.
Currently creators need 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. The Shorts Creator Pool threshold also rises to 10 million views over 90 days, and the change does not affect existing Partner Program members. YouTube is also expanding its affordable Premium Lite subscription.
Raising monetization thresholds makes it harder for new creators, especially Shorts-focused ones, to earn money on the platform, potentially reducing new entrants and signaling that YouTube is tightening the economics of its partner program.