Carlton CEO Gerry Murphy is understood to have been discussing the possibility with the new BT chairman, Sir Christopher Bland. Sir Christopher, who joined BT on May 1 from the BBC, still holds the role of BBC chairman.
The alliance could see Carlton's joint venture digital service ONdigital partner the telecoms giant to offer TV, internet and phone services in one package in the same way as cable firms NTL and Telewest.
This could help ONdigital in its quest to gain market share from digital rival BSkyB, which has several million more subscribers. BSkyB, however, has confirmed that it is also in similar talks with BT.
Murphy confirmed that initial talks had taken place with BT about the delivery of TV and high-speed internet services over BT's ADSL lines.
Murphy said, "We have the content, and we need their network." He added that a deal would be at least one or two years away because BT has yet to roll out its DSL network.
The talks have prompted fresh calls for Sir Christopher to hasten his exit from the BBC because of conflict of interests. The public service broadcaster competes with Carlton, one of the two major ITV companies.
Sir Christopher took the reins at BT from Sir Iain Vallance -- a replace at the BBC is unlikely to be named until after the June 7 general election. The Goldman Sachs economist and BBC deputy chairman Gavin Davis is tipped to win the job.