It is an open secret that ITV Digital partners Carlton and Granada have been seeking outside partners to join them in ITV Digital.
Late last year, the BBC was being mooted as a possible saviour of ITV Digital and at one stage the heavily indebted NTL was suggested as a buyer for the service, but its worsening financial decision has ruled out any such activity.
Talks of the investment follow comments from Sir Christopher suggesting BT has ambitions to turn itself into a media company. Sir Christopher had earlier suggested one of two possible futures for BT. Either as that of cable company distributing other people's content in same way as NTL and Telewest or, at the other extreme, a model much closer to BSkyB where BT produces and distributes its own content.
However, he then appeared to backtrack on his comments, saying that BT's move into media might not happen for several years. He told a conference in Arizona that BT would not become a "full vertical integrated media company like BSkyB and News Corporation", but he did not rule out investments such as ITV Digital.
The two chairmen have, according to reports, been seen together on a number of occasions. Sir Christopher, the former BBC chairman, is also close to Gerry Murphy, Carlton's chief executive.
What is less clear is Granada's position in the matter. The two companies are essentially engaged in a power struggle for the future of the ITV network. If a single company is given the go ahead, as expected, by the government, it will come down to a fight between Green and Granada chairman Charles Allen, who is said to be unenthusiastic about a BT investment.
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