Bosses at the Google-owned video website are reportedly in talks to hand the site over to a sponsor, that would result in a banner ad spanning the width of the page.
It is thought that the ad will be designed to accommodate high-definition video and will be the same height as the video ad unit currently running on the site's homepage.
The spot could cost up to $200,000 (£109,000) a day and, if the concept is approved, the first ad could run in the next two weeks.
To date, the YouTube homepage has had minimal advertising, despite the significant opportunity for revenue.
A Google spokesperson did not confirm the move, but told MediaWeek.co.uk: "We are constantly exploring and experimenting with a wide variety of ways to monetise online video content, but we have nothing new to announce at this time"
.jpg)
.jpg)