YouTube is doubling the amount of watch hours required for its creators to start earning from ads and subscriptions. The new requirements will take effect on February 1, 2027.

Currently, creators who want to be part of the YouTube Partner Program require at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 365 days or 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views over the last 90 days. From February, creators who want to start earning from YouTube ads and subscriptions must now have at least 1,000 subscribers and 8,000 watch hours in the last 365 days or 1,000 subscribers and 20 million Shorts views over the last 90 days.

YouTube says the changes were made to “keep pace with the growth of YouTube.” The platform now sees “over 200 billion daily Shorts views and over a billion hours of watch time on TV every day.”

YouTube added that creators already in the Partner Program must maintain 10 million Shorts views over the last 90 days to be eligible for ads and subscription revenue. Channels that do not meet the threshold will remain in the YouTube Partner Program and continue earning from long-form content, with Shorts revenue resuming automatically once the 10 million views threshold is crossed again.

As part of the announcement made on Monday, YouTube said that it is bringing Premium Lite to all countries where YouTube Premium is offered. Creators earn money from these subscriptions, based on member watch time and views, with 55% of revenue going to long-form video creators and 45% for Shorts creators.

“With these additional subscribers, creators can expect higher earnings: when a user signs up for Premium, partners, on average, earn more than when the user was watching ads,” the company added in the blog post announcement.