In a story that has dragged on even longer than the Yahoo/Microsoft saga, YouTube continues to search for its monetization sweet spot. This January, they started a deal to run masthead ad units, which seventeen brands have utilized. Now they’re offering a synchronized homepage placement, and McDonald’s has signed up as the first advertiser.

Most of the brands already advertising with the masthead units are similar (or possibly competing) businesses: specifically entertainment brands EA, Apple, Lionsgate, Universal and Sony, many of which have deals with YouTube already (and more notes on the latest Universal/YouTube deal in a minute!). (more…)