diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1f568e73b0..a1d7eac6e4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,8 +37,9 @@ which means you can modify it, redistribute it or use it however you like.
     -o, --output TEMPLATE    output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the
                              title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name,
                              %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented
-                             number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, and %%
-                             for a literal percent
+                             number, %(ext)s for the filename extension,
+                             %(upload_date)s for the upload date (YYYYMMDD), and
+                             %% for a literal percent
     -a, --batch-file FILE    file containing URLs to download ('-' for stdin)
     -w, --no-overwrites      do not overwrite files
     -c, --continue           resume partially downloaded files
diff --git a/youtube-dl b/youtube-dl
index 6dac70b68b..63ad30f542 100755
--- a/youtube-dl
+++ b/youtube-dl
@@ -4061,7 +4061,7 @@ def parseOpts():
 			action='store_true', dest='autonumber',
 			help='number downloaded files starting from 00000', default=False)
 	filesystem.add_option('-o', '--output',
-			dest='outtmpl', metavar='TEMPLATE', help='output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name, %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, and %% for a literal percent')
+			dest='outtmpl', metavar='TEMPLATE', help='output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name, %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, %(upload_date)s for the upload date (YYYYMMDD), and %% for a literal percent')
 	filesystem.add_option('-a', '--batch-file',
 			dest='batchfile', metavar='FILE', help='file containing URLs to download (\'-\' for stdin)')
 	filesystem.add_option('-w', '--no-overwrites',
diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index 6dac70b68b..63ad30f542 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -4061,7 +4061,7 @@ def parseOpts():
 			action='store_true', dest='autonumber',
 			help='number downloaded files starting from 00000', default=False)
 	filesystem.add_option('-o', '--output',
-			dest='outtmpl', metavar='TEMPLATE', help='output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name, %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, and %% for a literal percent')
+			dest='outtmpl', metavar='TEMPLATE', help='output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name, %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, %(upload_date)s for the upload date (YYYYMMDD), and %% for a literal percent')
 	filesystem.add_option('-a', '--batch-file',
 			dest='batchfile', metavar='FILE', help='file containing URLs to download (\'-\' for stdin)')
 	filesystem.add_option('-w', '--no-overwrites',