The BBC has invited three of the world's largest media groups to discuss possible bids for BBC Worldwide, the corporation's commercial sales and publishing arm, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.

Executives from the world's biggest media group, Us-based Time Warner, as well as those from Us giant Walt Disney Corporation and Germany's Bertelsmann are to hold talks with the BBC in the coming weeks, it said.

Assets up for grabs include the BBC America and BBC Prime channels, along with 26 magazine titles, merchandising operations and the broadcaster's overseas programme sales unit.

BBC executives believe the Worldwide division, which generated free cashflow of 141 million pounds in the 12 months to March 31, could be worth up to two billion pounds (2.9 billion euros, 3.5 billion dollars), according to the FT.

The publicly funded broadcaster is considering a possible sale of its commercial operations as part of an internal review following the fallout from last year's Hutton inquiry report.