He Got 1.5 Million Views in 6 Months by Sleeping in Bunkers & Investigating Atlantis — Here's How Pirate Times on TV Is Winning YouTube Without a Niche

Pirate Times On TV is one of the most underrated documentary-style storytelling channels exploding quietly under the radar. With just 26 videos, he’s pulled in 1.5M+ views and $3K+ in potential revenue — all while covering topics as chaotic and random as:

• Living in Swiss bunkers
• Training with the Japanese army
• Investigating ancient maps of Atlantis
• And even decoding the truth behind McDonald’s broken ice cream machines

This channel breaks every “niche down and focus” rule — and still wins.

📈 Why This Format Works

✅ Algorithm-Loved Mystery Titles — “I Lived in a Swiss Bunker” / “Why McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines Are Always Broken” are ultra-clickable ✅ Travel + History + Conspiracy Blend — It’s like Vox + Yes Theory + Internet Mysteries ✅ Immersive Storytelling — The creator becomes the main character, adding tension and relatability ✅ High Replay Value — Viewers stay for the full arc: the discovery, challenge, or twist ending ✅ Evergreen Videos — Nothing is news-based, so videos continue to rack up views months later

🧰 How You Can Clone This Model

1. Research “What If” Questions + Curious Phenomena Use ChatGPT or Reddit to mine ideas like:

• “What’s inside [X]?”
• “Why does [weird thing] exist?”
• “I tried living like [Y] for 7 days…”

2. Script a Personal Journey Don’t just explain — experience. Frame every video like:

“I went to solve this mystery — here’s what happened.”

3. Film or Compile B-Roll

• Use real footage (vlogs, interviews, footage from travels)
• Or license clips / use AI-generated visuals for narration

4. Add Tension + Payoff Structure each video like a mini Netflix episode:

• Setup the question
• Explore the unknown
• Confront something weird
• Deliver a twist, insight, or personal reflection

5. Edit for Retention Use cinematic pacing, sound design, and suspenseful music. The goal: make the viewer feel like they’re on the journey with you.

💸 Monetization Blueprint

Estimated RPM: $2–$5 (if full monetization enabled) Last 30 Days Revenue Potential: $212 – $3.4K Lifetime Potential: Up to $7.5K already if monetized at $5 RPM

Ways to Monetize Further:

1. Sponsor Hybrid Docs – Partner with travel gear, VPNs, book platforms
2. Sell Digital Kits – eBooks like “How to Build a Documentary YouTube Channel from Scratch”
3. Behind-the-Scenes Memberships – Patreon for story pitches, interviews, unreleased travel footage
4. Repurpose to TikTok & Reels – Break stories into vertical content and drive viewers to full videos