YouTube Won't Sell For Less Than $1.5 Billion

Joel from Sydney writes "According to a report in the New York Post, YouTube has informed potential buyers it won't be sold for anything less than $1.5 billion. The report lists Viacom, Disney, AOL, eBay and News Corp as potential buyers. Given that News Corp purchased MySpace last year for $580 million, is this a realistic figure?" From the article: "YouTube's stated business model is to 'pursue advertising,' but potential advertisers might be skittish considering industry estimates that roughly 90 percent of the content viewed on its site violates copyright laws. And at least one giant, Universal Music, is threatening to sue the company if its artists' songs keep appearing there. As it tries to focus on videos that don't use content owned by media companies, it yesterday launched the YouTube Underground, a contest to 'discover the most talented unsigned bands and musicians on YouTube,' backed by Cingular Wireless, Gibson Guitar and ABC's 'Good Morning America.'"

Comments

Swelled head

[Billosaur]

INTERNET upstart YouTube, the bane-du-jour of copyright holders everywhere, won't sell itself for anything less than $1.5 billion, The Post has learned.

But that number far exceeds the price top media execs appear willing to pay for a company many believe lacks a sustainable business model.

Let's see... Internet company... flaky business model... outrageous amounts of money... well, my time machine works -- I must be back in 1998!

Re:Swelled head

[SilentChris]

It would be most amusing if they sold for 1.5 billion Flooz.

1999 called....

[zymurgy_cat]

They want their business model back.

Re:1999 called....

[MichaelSmith]

And the moon.

Now that you have got the theme music running in my head I am wondering if I can get old episodes on youtube.

Re:Realistic?

[ZeroExistenZ]

$1.5 billion is chickenshit.

Can I borrow your chicken for a while...?

Re:They are right.

[russ1337]

Now the major media companies & RIAA have a figure to put on their lawsuits when suing for copyright infringement from kids lipsinking to Brittany. They'll want Youtube to just come out with their hands up and call it quits.

1.5 Billion dollars

[Anonymous Coward]

YouTube Won't Sell For Less Than $1.5 Billion

<Dr Evil> We will keep showing asians lip-synching Backstreet Boys unless you pay us... a kajillion trillion dollars!</Dr Evil>

Re:Realistic?

[lord sibn]

Dude. I seriously do not think that with the current exchange rate between the dollar and chicken shit means you seriously want to own $1.5bn worth of chicken shit. And even if you did, who would buy it, even if it was worth that much?

Re:1.5 huh

[muellerr1]

OK, besides roads, aqueducts, public education and popularity, what, exactly does youtube have that can't be easily copied?

Re:Realistic?

[Dark_MadMax666]

Mark parent "informative" .I just imagined 1.5 bill worth of chicken shit... and how it smells. - I do not want repeat the experience