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The sale follows a commercial review, which concluded that the unit did not exploit the BBC brand and was therefore not a core asset.

BBC Resources is divided into three divisions: BBC Outside Broadcasts, BBC Studios, and BBC Post Production. The three divisions generate revenues of around £125m between them.

A commercial review team concluded that the "BBC should only own commercial businesses that either export or exploit the BBC brand or content and while the services provided by BBC Resources are vital to the BBC, they do not need to be owned by the company anymore".

BBC said that a new owner could provide the business with further opportunities for growth, which are not available while the BBC owns it.

John Smith, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said: "We are committed to getting the best value for the BBC and licence fee payers, while putting staff interests at the heart of the process."

It is expected that the sale of the business and transfer of BBC Resources staff to the successful bidder will take place by the end of March 2008, subject to contract negotiations and approvals.

An ad publicising the sale is to be placed in the Financial Times and The Times newspapers, as well as in UK trade magazines, tomorrow August 16.

The sell-off follows the sale of BBC Technology to German electronics group Siemens for £2bn in October 2004, after fierce opposition from broadcasting trade union Bectu.