YouTube Shorts views count toward a channel’s total watch time, but they don’t count toward YouTube Partner Program eligibility (YPP).
The YPP allows channels to monetize and earn revenue from their videos, though not everyone is eligible to participate.
Acceptance into the YPP requires 4,000 valid public watch hours within the previous 12 months, among other requirements.
It wasn’t always clear whether Shorts’ opinions counted toward the 4,000 mark.
We now know that the 4,000 hours of watch time must have come from regular videos, or what YouTube calls “videos on demand” (VODs).
This is stated in a YouTube Creator Insider Q&A video, which includes a number of pertinent questions about Shorts.
Let’s start with YouTube’s response to the watch time question.
Read Are you new to the world of YouTube music? Here’s Where to Begin.
Do short views count toward the 4,000-hour watch time requirement?
When asked if views of YouTube Shorts count toward the total watch time of 4,000 hours, it was confirmed that they do not.
This is stated in a YouTube Creator Insider Q&A video about Shorts, which includes several pertinent questions.
Let’s start with YouTube’s response to the question of how long it takes to watch a video.
Do short views count toward the 4,000-hour requirement for watch time?
When asked if YouTube Shorts views count toward the 4,000-hour total watch time, it was confirmed that they do not.
“Shorts views count toward your channel’s overall lifetimes views. However, at this time, they do not count towards your YPP 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.”
That response leaves no room for interpretation. Short views are not counted towards the YPP requirements.
In the latest YouTube Creator Insider video, the YouTube Creator Insider team answers a few more questions about Shorts.
Read Are you new to the world of YouTube music? Here’s Where to Begin.
Is it possible to turn long-form videos into shorts?
A creator asks if it’s okay to turn previously published VODs into Shorts because they’re concerned about publishing repetitive content.
There’s nothing wrong with repurposing VODs, but Shorts should be able to stand alone without the help of the VOD.
“Creating Shorts from already published content is a great way to repurpose videos and experiment with Shorts. However, it’s important to keep in mind that a lot of people watching within the Shorts feed may not be familiar with your channel.
So whatever content you create make, sure it’s standalone and is able to be enjoyed by anyone who might not be familiar with your channel or your brand. And also make sure to make the video vertical.”
Will Shorts and VOD have their own analytics?
YouTube Studio’s analytics section is being redesigned, according to the company.
Currently, all types of video views are combined into a single metric.
“Yes, our analytics team is working on breaking those out for Shorts, for VOD (Video on Demand), and for live in studio.“
Should I Make A Channel Just For Shorts?
While some creators choose to create separate channels for Shorts content, this is only recommended if the videos will be different from what you currently produce.
“This is entirely up to you. We’ve seen creators be successful with both approaches. With that in mind, choosing between the same versus second channel is more about your creative vision. So we recommend you think about the type of content that you want to create within Shorts.
If it’s related to your long form video, and it’s an extension of that, then it might make the most sense to continue posting to your existing channel. But if you’re trying to do a major departure then creating a separate Shorts channel might be the best avenue for you. You can always experiment and see how your audience reacts and then make changes accordingly.”
Will Shorts Get Custom Thumbnails on YouTube?
Without going into detail, YouTube has stated that it is “addressing” the feedback on custom thumbnails for Shorts.
The thumbnails are unlikely to be seen by the majority of viewers, as most Shorts views come from people swiping through the feed.
“This is a question we get frequently from creators and I’d like to acknowledge we’ve heard your feedback loud and clear. The good news is that we’re currently working on addressing this feedback and we’ll keep you guys posted on future updates.
But just as a reminder, thumbnails on Shorts only show on surfaces that have a Shorts shelf. So that would be like on channel pages, on home, and within search results. And also the vast majority of views actually happen within the feed, and thumbnails don’t show within that environment.“
See the full video below:
Learn more from Youtube and read A Guide for Content Creators and Marketers on YouTube and Video Spam.
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