So, how many losses Google suffered with YouTube?

According to a study being released Wednesday, some Credit Suisse analysts estimated Internet video leader YouTube Inc.`s losses at $470.6 million, while Technology consultants at RampRate Inc. estimate YouTube`s operating losses this year at $174.2 million. However, corporate parent Google Inc. is not disposed to set the record straight about YouTube`s actual losses and doesn`t mind the misperception.

Although Google has acknowledged YouTube is unprofitable, it has refused to provide any specifics, leaving it to outsiders to figure out. And the number crunching usually leads to inaccurate conclusions, according to Google's chief financial officer, Patrick Pichette.

RampRate thinks the perception of large losses at YouTube helps Google negotiate more favorable contracts with movie, TV and music studios licensing their video.

Despite the U.S. recession, Google can still afford to finance YouTube with the money it makes through its search engine. Google`s income accounted for $4.2 billion last year and it started this year with a first-quarter profit of $1.4 billion.

Analysts generally agree with Credit Suisse's $241 million estimate for YouTube's revenue this year. RampRate adopted Credit Suisse's revenue projections in its calculations, as well as Credit Suisse's estimate that YouTube will spend about $332 million on video acquisition, advertising commissions and general overhead this year.

Credit Suisse analysts arrived at a conclusion Google will spend nearly $380 million on Internet bandwidth, computer hardware, software and data centers for YouTube. In RampRate`s calculation the figure is about $83 million, that presumes Google has negotiated moneysaving deals with broadband providers and other behind-the-scenes players.