diff --git a/api/video/enrichment.py b/api/video/enrichment.py
index 3de68812..e568a269 100644
--- a/api/video/enrichment.py
+++ b/api/video/enrichment.py
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ def register_routes(bp):
         from core.video.enrichment.engine import get_video_enrichment_engine
         return get_video_enrichment_engine()
 
+    def _yt_enricher():
+        from core.video.youtube_enrichment import get_youtube_date_enricher
+        return get_youtube_date_enricher()
+
     @bp.route("/enrichment/services", methods=["GET"])
     def video_enrichment_services():
         try:
@@ -108,6 +112,8 @@ def register_routes(bp):
 
     @bp.route("/enrichment/<service>/status", methods=["GET"])
     def video_enrichment_status(service):
+        if service == "youtube":   # the standalone date enricher (not an engine worker)
+            return jsonify(_yt_enricher().stats())
         w = engine().worker(service)
         if not w:
             return jsonify({"error": "unknown service"}), 404
@@ -115,6 +121,9 @@ def register_routes(bp):
 
     @bp.route("/enrichment/<service>/pause", methods=["POST"])
     def video_enrichment_pause(service):
+        if service == "youtube":
+            _yt_enricher().pause()
+            return jsonify({"status": "paused"})
         w = engine().worker(service)
         if not w:
             return jsonify({"error": "unknown service"}), 404
@@ -123,6 +132,9 @@ def register_routes(bp):
 
     @bp.route("/enrichment/<service>/resume", methods=["POST"])
     def video_enrichment_resume(service):
+        if service == "youtube":
+            _yt_enricher().resume()
+            return jsonify({"status": "running"})
         w = engine().worker(service)
         if not w:
             return jsonify({"error": "unknown service"}), 404
diff --git a/api/video/youtube.py b/api/video/youtube.py
index c8ff5e5a..7ea6af4d 100644
--- a/api/video/youtube.py
+++ b/api/video/youtube.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def register_routes(bp):
             if followed:   # followed channels get their full upload-date catalog in the background
                 try:
                     from core.video.youtube_enrichment import get_youtube_date_enricher
-                    get_youtube_date_enricher().enqueue(channel.get("youtube_id"))
+                    get_youtube_date_enricher().enqueue(channel.get("youtube_id"), channel.get("title"))
                 except Exception:
                     pass
             return jsonify({"success": followed, "following": followed, "added_videos": added,
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ def register_routes(bp):
             if following:   # opening a followed channel → ensure its dates get enriched
                 try:
                     from core.video.youtube_enrichment import get_youtube_date_enricher
-                    get_youtube_date_enricher().enqueue(cid)
+                    get_youtube_date_enricher().enqueue(cid, channel.get("title"))
                 except Exception:
                     pass
             # backfill the real avatar onto wished rows (flat listing often omits it)
diff --git a/core/video/youtube_enrichment.py b/core/video/youtube_enrichment.py
index 42674620..21156702 100644
--- a/core/video/youtube_enrichment.py
+++ b/core/video/youtube_enrichment.py
@@ -31,21 +31,28 @@ class YoutubeDateEnricher:
         self._db_factory = db_factory or self._default_db
         self._q: "queue.Queue[str]" = queue.Queue()
         self._inflight = set()
+        self._titles = {}
         self._thread = None
         self._lock = threading.Lock()
+        self._current = None          # channel being enriched right now (for the orb)
+        self._paused = False
+        self._channels_done = 0
+        self._dates_total = 0
 
     @staticmethod
     def _default_db():
         from database.video_database import VideoDatabase
         return VideoDatabase()
 
-    def enqueue(self, channel_id):
+    def enqueue(self, channel_id, title=None):
         """Queue a followed channel for full date enrichment (deduped; starts the
         worker thread on first use)."""
         cid = str(channel_id or "").strip()
         if not cid:
             return
         with self._lock:
+            if title:
+                self._titles[cid] = title
             if cid in self._inflight:
                 return
             self._inflight.add(cid)
@@ -54,8 +61,34 @@ class YoutubeDateEnricher:
                 self._thread = threading.Thread(target=self._run, name="yt-date-enricher", daemon=True)
                 self._thread.start()
 
+    def pause(self):
+        self._paused = True
+
+    def resume(self):
+        self._paused = False
+
+    def stats(self):
+        """Dashboard-orb telemetry — same shape the enrichment workers report."""
+        queued = self._q.qsize()
+        running = bool(self._current) and not self._paused
+        cur = self._current
+        return {
+            "enabled": True,
+            "idle": False,                       # this worker idles, it never "completes"
+            "running": running,
+            "paused": self._paused,
+            "current_item": {"type": "channel", "name": cur} if cur else None,
+            "progress": {"channels": {"matched": self._channels_done,
+                                      "total": self._channels_done + queued + (1 if cur else 0)}},
+            "queued": queued,
+            "dates_cached": self._dates_total,
+        }
+
     def _run(self):
         while True:
+            if self._paused:
+                time.sleep(0.5)
+                continue
             try:
                 cid = self._q.get(timeout=45)
             except queue.Empty:
@@ -65,6 +98,7 @@ class YoutubeDateEnricher:
             except Exception:
                 logger.exception("YouTube date enrichment failed for %s", cid)
             finally:
+                self._current = None
                 with self._lock:
                     self._inflight.discard(cid)
                 self._q.task_done()
@@ -76,6 +110,7 @@ class YoutubeDateEnricher:
         cid = str(channel_id or "").strip()
         if not cid or db.channel_dates_enriched_recently(cid):
             return
+        self._current = self._titles.get(cid) or cid
 
         dates = {}
         try:
@@ -103,6 +138,8 @@ class YoutubeDateEnricher:
         if filled:
             logger.info("YouTube dates: %d cached for %s (per-video fallback)", filled, cid)
 
+        self._channels_done += 1
+        self._dates_total += len(dates) + filled
         db.mark_channel_dates_enriched(cid, len(dates) + filled)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_video_api.py b/tests/test_video_api.py
index 6ed45dff..b1922cd7 100644
--- a/tests/test_video_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_video_api.py
@@ -716,3 +716,13 @@ def test_youtube_search_endpoint_hydrates_following(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     flags = {c["youtube_id"]: c["following"] for c in d["channels"]}
     assert flags == {"UCaaa": True, "UCbbb": False}
     assert client.get("/api/video/youtube/search?q=").get_json()["channels"] == []
+
+
+def test_enrichment_youtube_status_route(tmp_path):
+    client, _ = _make_client(tmp_path)
+    d = client.get("/api/video/enrichment/youtube/status").get_json()
+    assert d["enabled"] is True and "running" in d and "progress" in d
+    assert client.post("/api/video/enrichment/youtube/pause").get_json()["status"] == "paused"
+    assert client.post("/api/video/enrichment/youtube/resume").get_json()["status"] == "running"
+    # unknown service still 404s
+    assert client.get("/api/video/enrichment/bogus/status").status_code == 404
diff --git a/tests/test_video_youtube_enrichment.py b/tests/test_video_youtube_enrichment.py
index b8e4fd6c..066ec893 100644
--- a/tests/test_video_youtube_enrichment.py
+++ b/tests/test_video_youtube_enrichment.py
@@ -49,3 +49,12 @@ def test_enrich_falls_back_to_per_video_when_proxy_empty(db, monkeypatch):
 def test_enricher_imports_nothing_from_music():
     src = Path("core/video/youtube_enrichment.py").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     assert "database.music_database" not in src and "from database import" not in src
+
+
+def test_enricher_stats_shape_and_pause():
+    e = YoutubeDateEnricher(db_factory=lambda: None)
+    s = e.stats()
+    assert s["enabled"] is True and s["running"] is False and s["paused"] is False
+    assert s["current_item"] is None and "progress" in s
+    e.pause(); assert e.stats()["paused"] is True
+    e.resume(); assert e.stats()["paused"] is False
diff --git a/webui/index.html b/webui/index.html
index 6d44701a..045141bb 100644
--- a/webui/index.html
+++ b/webui/index.html
@@ -488,6 +488,22 @@
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
+                                <div class="video-enrich-container" style="--ve-accent: 255, 59, 59;">
+                                    <button class="video-enrich-button" type="button" data-video-enrich="youtube" title="YouTube Dates">
+                                        <span class="video-enrich-glyph" aria-hidden="true">&#9654;</span>
+                                        <span class="video-enrich-spinner" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+                                    </button>
+                                    <div class="video-enrich-tooltip" data-video-enrich-tooltip="youtube">
+                                        <div class="tooltip-content">
+                                            <div class="tooltip-header">YouTube Dates</div>
+                                            <div class="tooltip-body">
+                                                <div class="tooltip-status">Status: <span data-video-enrich-status>Idle</span></div>
+                                                <div class="tooltip-current" data-video-enrich-current>No channels queued</div>
+                                                <div class="tooltip-progress" data-video-enrich-progress>Progress: 0 / 0</div>
+                                            </div>
+                                        </div>
+                                    </div>
+                                </div>
                                 <!-- Reuses music's .em-manage-btn* classes verbatim so it's
                                      pixel-identical; wired by data-attribute (no inline
                                      handler) via video-enrichment.js, never music's. -->
diff --git a/webui/static/video/video-detail.js b/webui/static/video/video-detail.js
index 0f1afae1..52856f83 100644
--- a/webui/static/video/video-detail.js
+++ b/webui/static/video/video-detail.js
@@ -335,10 +335,13 @@
         var a = q('[data-vd-actions]');
         if (!a) return;
         if (d.source === 'youtube') {
+            // Use the SAME watchlist button as shows/movies (consistency); it just
+            // follows the channel instead of a tmdb show.
             var on = !!d.following;
             a.innerHTML =
-                '<button class="vd-yt-follow' + (on ? ' vd-yt-follow--on' : '') + '" type="button" data-vd-act="yt-follow">' +
-                    (on ? '✓ Following' : '+ Follow') + '</button>' +
+                '<button class="library-artist-watchlist-btn' + (on ? ' watching' : '') + '" type="button" data-vd-act="yt-follow">' +
+                    '<span class="watchlist-icon">' + (on ? '✓' : '＋') + '</span>' +
+                    '<span class="watchlist-text">' + (on ? 'In Watchlist' : 'Watchlist') + '</span></button>' +
                 '<a class="vd-yt-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/' + esc(d.id) +
                     '" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Open on YouTube ↗</a>';
             return;
diff --git a/webui/static/video/video-enrichment.js b/webui/static/video/video-enrichment.js
index 482d4ef5..418f8750 100644
--- a/webui/static/video/video-enrichment.js
+++ b/webui/static/video/video-enrichment.js
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 (function () {
     'use strict';
 
-    var SERVICES = ['tmdb', 'tvdb', 'omdb'];
+    var SERVICES = ['tmdb', 'tvdb', 'omdb'];   // pushed over the shared socket
+    var POLLED = ['youtube'];                  // standalone daemon → light polling
+    var ALL = SERVICES.concat(POLLED);
 
     function onVideoSide() {
         return document.body.getAttribute('data-side') === 'video';
@@ -72,7 +74,13 @@
 
     // One-time fetch so the buttons aren't blank until the first socket push.
     function primeOnce() {
-        if (onVideoSide() && !document.hidden) SERVICES.forEach(pollOne);
+        if (onVideoSide() && !document.hidden) ALL.forEach(pollOne);
+    }
+    // The YouTube date enricher isn't on the socket — poll it so its orb reflects
+    // activity (only while the video side is foregrounded).
+    function pollPolledLoop() {
+        if (onVideoSide() && !document.hidden) POLLED.forEach(pollOne);
+        setTimeout(pollPolledLoop, 3000);
     }
 
     // Listen on the shared socket (set up by core.js) for the server-pushed
@@ -104,7 +112,7 @@
     }
 
     function init() {
-        SERVICES.forEach(function (svc) {
+        ALL.forEach(function (svc) {
             var b = btn(svc);
             if (b) b.addEventListener('click', function () { toggle(svc); });
         });
@@ -115,7 +123,8 @@
             });
         }
         primeOnce();   // instant initial state
-        bindSocket();  // then the socket pushes updates — no polling
+        bindSocket();  // then the socket pushes updates for tmdb/tvdb/omdb
+        pollPolledLoop();   // ...and poll the youtube enricher
         // Re-prime when the user returns to the tab (socket kept pushing, but a
         // quick fetch snaps the buttons current immediately).
         document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', function () {
diff --git a/webui/static/video/video-worker-orbs.js b/webui/static/video/video-worker-orbs.js
index 627e7377..06c1b146 100644
--- a/webui/static/video/video-worker-orbs.js
+++ b/webui/static/video/video-worker-orbs.js
@@ -20,10 +20,11 @@
     // VIDEO side: the two enrichment buttons + the Manage Workers hub. `sel`
     // matches the BUTTON; the orb's positioned element is its container.
     const WORKER_DEFS = [
-        { sel: '[data-video-enrich="tmdb"]',   color: [56, 189, 248],  id: 'tmdb' },
-        { sel: '[data-video-enrich="tvdb"]',   color: [168, 85, 247],  id: 'tvdb' },
-        { sel: '[data-video-enrich="omdb"]',   color: [245, 197, 24],  id: 'omdb' },
-        { sel: '[data-video-manage-workers]',  color: [168, 85, 247],  hub: true },
+        { sel: '[data-video-enrich="tmdb"]',    color: [56, 189, 248],  id: 'tmdb' },
+        { sel: '[data-video-enrich="tvdb"]',    color: [168, 85, 247],  id: 'tvdb' },
+        { sel: '[data-video-enrich="omdb"]',    color: [245, 197, 24],  id: 'omdb' },
+        { sel: '[data-video-enrich="youtube"]', color: [255, 59, 59],   id: 'youtube' },
+        { sel: '[data-video-manage-workers]',   color: [168, 85, 247],  hub: true },
     ];
 
     const ERROR_COLOR = [255, 80, 80];   // pulses fired on real worker errors