BBC Worldwide sells programmes like Top Gear to other broadcasters

But it declined to comment on a report in the Financial Times that suggested that BBC Worldwide wants to raise as much as �1bn for acquisitions.

The BBC has a �350m commercial borrowing limit. It bought the guide book publisher Lonely Planet last year.

BBC Worldwide sells programmes like Top Gear and The Office around the globe.

'Ongoing conversations'

A BBC Worldwide spokesperson declined to comment on the �1bn figure mentioned in the FT report but said that the talks with equity funds were "nothing new".

"It is part of ongoing conversations we've been having for some time," he said.

Chief executive John Smith has said acquisitions will play a key part in its expansion plans.

Worldwide has recently taken minority stakes in independent production companies and also has a partnership with retailer Woolworths for DVD sales and a pay-TV deal with Virgin Media.

Any further expansion would be controversial.

Commercial rivals criticised its recent purchase of Lonely Planet. Others questioned the sale of advertising on the BBC's international website, bbc.com

The BBC Trust, its independent governing body, has to sanction any deals done by Worldwide.

The recent success of its overseas sales operations helped it make profits before tax of �111m in 2006, up 24%. It must return all profits to the BBC.