Views of YouTube shorts count towards a channel’s total watch time, but they don’t count towards eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program (PPY).
YPP channels can monetize and generate revenue from videos, although not everyone is eligible to participate.
Among other criteria, acceptance into the YPP requires 4,000 hours of valid public viewing in the last 12 months.
It was not always clear whether Shorts’ views contributed to the 4,000 threshold.
We now know for sure that the 4,000 watch hours must come from regular videos – or what YouTube calls video on demand (VOD).
This is stated in a Q&A video on YouTube’s Creator Insider channel, which has a number of relevant short film questions.
Let’s first look at YouTube’s answer to the watch time question.
Do short film views count towards 4,000 watch hours?
When asked if YouTube Shorts views counted towards the 4,000 hours of total watch time, it was confirmed that they did not.
However, YouTube has a “Shorts Fund” allowing creators to earn money solely from Shorts videos.
“Views of short films count towards the total number of views over the life of your channel. However, at this time, they do not count towards your YouTube Partner Program watch time. As a reminder, the Shorts fund is available as a first step towards monetization. And we’ll keep you posted on future updates.
There is no room for interpretation with this answer. Views of short films do not count towards meeting YouTube Partner Program requirements.
Here are more questions about shorts answered in the latest video from the YouTube Creator Insider team.
Can long videos be turned into short films?
Concerned about posting repetitive content, a creator asks if it’s okay to turn previously posted VODs into shorts.
There’s nothing wrong with reassigning VODs, but Shorts should be able to stand on its own without needing the VOD for context.
“Creating shorts from already published content is a great way to reuse videos and experiment with shorts. However, it’s important to keep in mind that many people who watch the Shorts stream don’t know maybe not your channel.
So whatever content you create, make sure it’s self-contained and can be enjoyed by anyone who might not be familiar with your channel or brand. And also make sure to make the video vertical.
Will there be separate analyzes for short films and VOD?
YouTube confirms that it is working on revamping the analytics section of YouTube Studio.
Currently, views of all video types are counted as one metric.
“Yes, our analytics team is working on allocating them for shorts, for VOD (video on demand) and for live studio.”
Should I create a separate channel for short films?
Although some creators choose to start separate channels for short film content, this is only recommended if the videos deviate from what you have already created.
“It’s entirely up to you. We’ve seen creators succeed with both approaches. With that in mind, choosing between the same channel or the second channel is more down to your creative vision, so we recommend thinking about the type of content you want to create in Shorts.
If this is related to your long-form video and is an extension of it, it may make more sense to continue posting to your existing channel. But if you’re trying to make a major change, creating a separate Shorts channel might be the best solution for you. You can always experiment and see how your audience reacts, then make changes accordingly. »
Will YouTube add custom thumbnails for short films?
Without going into details, it was revealed that YouTube was working to “address” comments regarding custom thumbnails for Shorts.
It’s unlikely that a majority of viewers will see the thumbnails, as most views of Shorts come from people browsing the stream.
“This is a question we receive frequently from creators and I want to acknowledge that we heard your feedback loud and clear. The good news is that we are currently working to address these comments and will keep you updated on any future updates.
But as a reminder, thumbnails on Shorts only display on surfaces that have a Shorts shelf. So it would be like on the channel pages, on the homepage, and in the search results. Also, the vast majority of views actually happen in the stream, and thumbnails don’t display in that environment. “
Watch the full video below:
Featured Image: Primakov/Shutterstock
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