Google’s YouTube has had preliminary discussions about the availability of carrot-top talk show host Conan O’Brien, a source told The Post.
O’Brien, who is reportedly paid $12 million a year at TBS, is in the final year of his contract.
The 53-year-old host is angling for a raise and a shake-up of his role at the network — perhaps a role that could better exploit his digital abilities, a source said.
O’Brien, who is hugely popular with the young male demographic, has 4.6 million YouTube channel subscribers — even as ratings for his Monday-to-Thursday show have declined.
The emergence of YouTube Red, Google’s premium streaming channel, as a potential partner for O’Brien is surprising — although possibly marketing gold given the host’s prominent crown of red hair.
The streaming video giant is trying to build a paid streaming service with a package of TV channels.
“Conan is the longest-running late night talk show host and he has the youngest demo,” a source said.
O’Brien could help it fight for eyeballs against the likes of Netflix, which nabbed Chelsea Handler from E! Entertainment. Both Netflix and Amazon air comedy specials.
Despite the interest, O’Brien will ultimately stick with TBS, sources close to the comedian said, although there has also been some network interest.
Fox had pitched to win O’Brien back in 2010 when he left his “Tonight Show” perch in a huff over NBC’s scheduling changes.
TBS programming boss Kevin Reilly was at Fox at the time.
Turner Broadcasting Chief Executive John Martin sparked controversy last week when he told The Wrap that O’Brien’s 11 p.m. show might go to a weekly format because of intense competition in the late night segment.
Since O’Brien’s last set of talks, the TV landscape has changed radically.
“Almost all late night talk shows were down this year, with the exception of James Corden, host of CBS’ “Late, Late Show,” whose “Carpool Karaoke” viral bits have put him on the map,” Billie Gold, research director at Carat, told The Post.
TBS and Google declined comment. O’Brien reps could not be reached.