
The BBC Trust submission to Ofcom's Public Service Broadcasting review said that of Ofcom's proposed future funding models for PSBs, the provision of so-called regulatory assets - such as cut-price spectrum at lower than market prices - offers "the most promising funding option to support PSB on commercial broadcasters".
The BBC said the move would avoid "all the difficulties associated with the direct public funding of output on commercial [PSB] channels".
The value of this spectrum and other benefits, such as favourable EPG listing regulations for Five, are worth around £200m, according to Ofcom.
The BBC said Ofcom could maximise the value to PSBs of access to digital terrestrial TV spectrum, yielding a value of £45m per year for ITV. "In the light of this, the BBC would suggest that Ofcom confirms that it is prepared to waive spectrum pricing for PSBs," the corporation added.
The BBC said it was open to sharing resources with other broadcasters, including expertise in digital production technology.
Channel 4 said it is reviewing the effectiveness of various potential models of future funding, but chief executive Andy Duncan has said he prefers an "indirect" funding solution rather than direct public funds.