The news raises the prospect of serious competition for BSkyB, which currently owns exclusive live football rights in a £1.1bn three-year deal expiring at the end of the 2006/2007 season.
The Financial Times has reported the existence of the talks, quoting an unnamed executive it said was familiar with the issue.
The executive said: "There is a group of UK broadcasters and cable operators looking at this, although it could take weeks or months to put something together."
Private equity groups are also looking at the TV rights, lured by the estimated £150m-£180m revenue BSkyB makes from pub and club subscriptions to its sports channels.
Irish TV group Setanta Sports could be another bidder, reportedly having attempted to hire Trevor East, the Sky Sports deputy managing director who has negotiated Sky's deals.
However, all the bidders are left guessing while the European Commission continues discussions with the Premier League about restrictions on the sale of the rights.
The EC has already secured the condition that the rights to show live games will go to more than one broadcaster. Discussions are now believed to be centreing on the maximum number of matches that can be shown by any one broadcaster.
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