In the Hyphen expands YouTube revenue with pre-sold sponsorships

Hurtado left his journalism job to make money on YouTube, aiming to replace his old salary by mixing different income streams. Now, about 60% of his long videos have sponsors even before they are filmed, which gives him steady cash. His YouTube channel makes money in three ways: ad revenue, sponsorship packages, and short videos for social media. Because his audience is mostly in the US and very engaged, sponsors pay him well. His quick success comes from his newsroom experience and careful planning, helping him grow fast and earn more with every new subscriber.

Fernando Hurtado is expanding his YouTube revenue by securing pre-sold sponsorships for his channel, In the Hyphen. To replace his former journalism salary, Hurtado ensures that approximately 60% of his long-form videos have a sponsor before filming even begins. This strategy provides predictable cash flow while he grows his ad-share revenue. According to the YouTube Sponsorship Rates 2025 Guide, channels of his size can command significant fees, making his pre-sold model highly effective.

How the revenue stack works

In the Hyphen's revenue model is built on three core pillars: YouTube Partner Program ad-share, comprehensive sponsorship packages, and exclusive short-form content for other platforms. Pre-sold sponsorships form the financial backbone, bundling mid-roll ads with mentions in Shorts and newsletters to maximize earnings for each video.

Hurtado's strategy includes:
- YouTube Partner Program Ad-Share: Monetization was activated within days of the channel's launch.
- Pre-Sold Sponsorship Packages: These bundles include mid-roll ad reads, YouTube Shorts, and newsletter features.
- Short-Form Content: Exclusive videos produced for TikTok and Instagram Reels supplement primary income.

Sponsorships are the most critical component. With a highly engaged, US-based audience, In the Hyphen can command premium rates. Industry data shows creators in this position can price at the upper end of the $15-$25 CPM range, allowing each pre-sold sponsorship slot to potentially generate four-figure earnings.

Speed versus the benchmark

While most new creators take 30-90 days to meet YouTube's monetization threshold (1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours), Hurtado achieved this milestone almost instantly. His rapid success is attributed to his five years of newsroom experience at NBCUniversal, which provided him with a playbook for creating tightly scripted, professionally edited content and an existing network to promote early videos.

Risks and next moves

While Hurtado has shared in videos like He Quit His $125k Journalism Job to Make YouTube Videos that he hasn't yet matched his previous salary, the channel's financial momentum is strong. Future growth depends on a consistent publishing schedule and high sponsor retention. As the channel approaches the 100K subscriber mark, sponsorship rates are expected to increase significantly. Maintaining its current 7% engagement rate while growing could double the value of each sponsorship package, aligning with market forecasts.

To sustain this growth, Hurtado relies on efficient, repeatable systems. He time-boxes his scriptwriting, films multiple videos per session, and repurposes research for different platforms. This disciplined, newsroom-style approach prevents burnout, maximizes his initial $9,000 equipment investment, and offers a clear blueprint for other creators looking to shorten their path to monetization.

How did Fernando Hurtado monetize In the Hyphen so fast?

He left NBC in January 2025, spent $9k on gear, and hit the YouTube Partner Program bar in days by dropping a breakout video on the Latino accent that stacked 1k subs and 4k watch hours almost overnight. His journalism-grade scripting and editing let him post at a speed most new creators can't match, so ads started running before week two.

What does "60% of videos pre-sold" actually mean?

Instead of hunting for one-off deals, Fernando sells multi-video packages to brands that want sustained exposure to U.S. Latino viewers. Roughly 6 out of every 10 uploads is already paid for before the thumbnail is even made, giving him cash-flow predictability that most small channels never see.

How much can a niche channel like In the Hyphen charge per sponsored video?

Industry tables for 2025-2026 show 50k-100k-subscriber channels in culturally focused niches routinely land $500-$3,000 per long-form integration when the audience is U.S. based and engagement tops 5%. Fernando sits in that pocket, so a six-video package can reasonably clear mid-five-figures up-front.

Why are short-form sponsorships part of the mix if they pay less?

Shorts rates run 40-60% lower than long-form, but they take a tenth of the production hours and can be slammed out between deeper videos. Brands like them for quick product drops, and Fernando uses them to over-deliver on package deals without burning out his long-form schedule.

Is he earning more than at NBC yet?

Not quite. His NBC salary was $125k plus benefits; 2025 YouTube payouts are still ramping. But with pre-sold inventory, rising CPMs in the Latino-interest space, and no studio overhead, the gap is closing fast. If current growth holds, projected 2026 revenue should cross his old paycheck while he keeps 100% creative control.