US viewers turned in greater numbers than ever before to BBC news bulletins -- at its height it gained audiences of more than a million. Since the war finished, BBC bulletins have continued to be seen by around 900,000 people across 221 public broadcasting stations.
According to reports, the BBC is in talks with cable networks about a slot for BBC World, its international news channel. It follows the success BBC News enjoyed online with American surfers as they looked for foreign views on the conflict in Iraq.
BBC News was the 59th most-visited website in the US overall, beating established homegrown names Fox News and The Washington Post online.
A distribution deal would add millions of homes to the 264m who receive the BBC service around the world. Earlier this month, BBC World became available to an extra 2.4m homes after it began broadcasting free-to-air across continental Europe on the Astra 1H satellite.
The BBC was not prepared to confirm its involvement in any talks at this time, but did admit that a US launch is the corporation's long-term goal.
"We have always talked about 24-hour distribution as our long-term goal for BBC World in the US," said a spokesman. "Our reputation among viewers and journalists there increased during the Iraq war. There are several potential partners and platforms that could be involved in any agreement, but we would not want to discuss any of these at present."
Earlier this year, the BBC was reported to have approached US television network ABC with plans for an alliance that could see jointly branded news services and distribution of BBC news on the ABC network.
The BBC has been pushing into North America in recent years after making a deal with PBS and setting up its cable service, BBC America, which is now available in more American homes than ever before.
As well as BBC America, which is currently enjoying good write-ups for spy drama 'Spooks', which runs as 'M:I5' in the US, BBC programmes appear on a number of other US networks, including the A&E entertainment channel.
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