YouTube has finally named its price according to a US newspaper report that claims the video sharing website is holding out for $US1.5bn ($1.99bn) offer from would-be suitors.

Yesterday’s report in the New York Post said the figure had come from a senior industry source and it named potential buyers as Viacom, Disney, AOL, eBay, and News Corp, parent company of The Post.

Youtube is seeking out new ways to generate revenues on the back of its success through advertising and content deals and is also facing a battle to legitimise its activities amid industry accusations that much of its video content violates copyright protection.

Other labels, including Capitol Records, have also been dabbling with the idea of releasing commercial videos on YouTube and NBC is using YouTube to promote some of its television content after the two forged a partnership in June.