Discover how to monetize your social media in 7 days
Faceless YouTube channels are all the rage right now—especially ones using curated or public footage. One niche that’s been making the rounds lately? Police body cam videos.
A few days ago, I came across a video claiming that you can start making money fast by uploading body cam footage. Naturally, I had to test it myself.
Let me walk you through the results—what worked, what didn’t, and whether this method is worth your time.
The Premise: Can You Monetize Police Body Cam Videos?
The claim is simple: gather police body cam videos, upload them to YouTube, stay completely faceless, and watch the money roll in.
But here’s the truth…
This niche isn’t actually new. In fact, creators have been uploading police body cam footage for years. The idea just recently got hyped again.
So I decided to experiment using one of my older YouTube channels that had been dormant—and here’s what I learned.
The Pros of This Faceless Niche
There are definitely some upsides to this strategy:
- 100% Faceless – You don’t need to be on camera or record voiceovers (though a short intro helps with uniqueness).
- High Watch Time – People love this content. Viewers are glued to it, making it great for engagement.
- Easy to Produce – Find the footage, add a simple intro, compile it, and upload.
But don’t let that fool you. There are some real risks involved.
The Cons: The Hidden Costs and Monetization Issues
Let’s talk about what the original video didn’t cover:
- You Might Not Get Monetized – YouTube may reject your channel for reuse or content violations, even if you follow the rules.
- Footage Can Be Expensive – Buying body cam videos can cost $15+ per video. If you’re uploading daily, that adds up fast.
- Copyright Risks – Even with Freedom of Information requests, someone else may upload the same footage and claim ownership.
- Low Affiliate Potential – Since this is entertainment-based content, viewers aren’t necessarily looking to buy anything. That limits your ability to monetize with affiliate links.
How I Set Up My Channel
I skipped paying for footage at first and found some public-domain content to test the waters.
Here’s how I made the videos unique:
- Added a short intro to each clip describing the scene
- Combined multiple clips into one 8+ minute video
- Kept commentary minimal, just enough to differentiate from raw reuploads
It worked—views started coming in fast.
My Early Results (So Far)
- Channel was dormant for over a year
- Uploaded videos using the new method
- Gained almost 1,000 watch hours in one week
- Still waiting to hit the 4,000 hours needed for monetization
- Haven’t earned from affiliate links yet (viewers are mostly watching, not clicking)
My Monetization Strategy Moving Forward
If I can get monetized through the YouTube Partner Program, this channel could become self-sustaining. That would allow me to:
- Buy footage regularly without going out of pocket
- Potentially hire a virtual assistant to automate everything
- Scale uploads while removing myself from the day-to-day
But for now, this is still an experiment.
Final Thoughts: Is This Faceless Niche Worth It?
If you’re looking for a low-effort, faceless YouTube idea—this can work. But know what you’re getting into.
You’ll need to:
- Understand the risks
- Have a plan for monetization beyond YouTube ads
- Be prepared to invest before you earn
The niche can generate views, but turning those views into cash? That’s a different story.
If you’re serious about building a long-term channel, this might be worth testing. Just don’t expect overnight success.
Let me know if you want me to keep updating you on how this experiment unfolds.
Want more breakdowns like this? Make sure you’re subscribed to the blog—and if you’re thinking of starting your own channel, check out my Content Monetization Starter Kit.
See you in the next one.