YouTube tightens Shorts earnings rules in major YPP overhaul

YouTube has announced major changes to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), marking its first significant restructuring since 2018, after the platform attracted more than three million participating creators worldwide.

The company said the overhaul was intended to keep YPP competitive within the creator economy and provide stronger incentives for creators who consistently produce content and maintain audience engagement.

YouTube expects its total payments to creators in 2027 to exceed the amount paid in 2026.

Premium Lite to expand worldwide

One of the main changes will be the expansion of YouTube Premium Lite to every country where YouTube Premium is available.

Premium Lite subscribers will be able to watch most content without advertising interruptions, while the service will also support offline viewing and background play.

YouTube will allocate net subscription revenue to separate creator revenue pools based on the type of service. Premium will contribute 30% of its net subscription revenue, while Premium Lite will allocate 60%.

The revenue will then be distributed to creators according to members’ viewing time and number of views.

Creators will receive a 55% share for long-form videos and 45% for Shorts.

YouTube said that, on average, a Premium subscription generates more revenue for its partners than viewing supported by advertising.

Shorts creators face new 10-million-view threshold

Another change directly affecting creators is a revised revenue-sharing system for YouTube Shorts.

From February 1, 2027, creators will need at least 10 million eligible Shorts views within a 90-day period to qualify for a share of advertising and subscription revenue generated by Shorts.

Channels falling below the threshold will remain in YPP and will still be able to earn revenue from long-form videos as usual.

Shorts monetisation will be automatically restored when a channel again exceeds 10 million eligible views within a rolling 90-day period.

YouTube said creators who already generate substantial revenue from Shorts were unlikely to be significantly affected by the change.

New incentives planned for smaller Shorts channels

YouTube also plans to provide more income opportunities outside advertising, reducing creators’ reliance on ad revenue alone.

For channels with fewer than 10 million Shorts views, the company is preparing new incentive programmes, including bonuses from YouTube Shopping, benefits linked to brand deals and rewards for creators who launch or drive trends on the platform.

Further details of the programmes will be announced later.

The changes reflect YouTube’s effort to diversify creator income across subscriptions, shopping and brand partnerships, while directing Shorts revenue towards channels that maintain high levels of viewing and engagement.

Tougher YPP entry requirements for new creators

YouTube will also revise the eligibility requirements for new creators seeking to join YPP and receive a share of advertising and Premium revenue.

Under the new criteria, applicants must meet one of the following thresholds:

• At least 8,000 eligible watch hours within 365 days; or
• At least 20 million eligible Shorts views within 90 days.

YouTube stressed that the new requirements will apply only to new applicants and will not affect channels that are already members of YPP.

The existing eligibility criteria for fan-funding services and shopping products will remain unchanged.

Shorts views exceed 200 billion a day

The overhaul comes amid continued growth in video viewing across YouTube.

The company said Shorts now generate more than 200 billion views a day.

Meanwhile, viewers worldwide watch more than one billion hours of YouTube content on television screens each day, reflecting a shift from smartphone-based viewing towards larger screens.

The YPP restructuring therefore signals YouTube’s intention to encourage creators to build larger audiences and generate stronger engagement, while expanding its revenue model beyond advertising.

Creators will be able to review and accept the revised terms through YouTube Studio. The new requirements will take effect on February 1, 2027.