TikTok has quietly crossed a Rubicon. Starting this week, all verified accounts with over 10,000 followers can post videos up to 30 minutes in length โ complete with mid-roll ad slots, interactive chapter markers, and placement in a new "Watch Later" shelf visible to followers. The feature has been in closed beta since October; its full rollout was announced in a developer blog post late Tuesday that initially drew little attention.
The implications are significant. TikTok's core identity has always been built around short-form content โ the 15-second, 60-second, and eventually 3-minute clip. Long-form has been creeping up (10-minute videos were enabled in 2022), but 30 minutes represents a categorical shift: TikTok is now in direct competition with YouTube for the long-form creator's time and audience.
The Monetization Structure
The ad revenue share for Extended videos is reported to be 55% creator / 45% TikTok, comparable to YouTube's standard 55/45 split. Mid-roll ads can be placed at creator-specified intervals no shorter than 8 minutes apart. Early beta testers report CPMs of $8-14 for Extended videos, significantly higher than TikTok's standard Pulse Premiere rates.
Average watch time on Extended format videos in beta testing