The UK government has said it has no commitment to sell the BBCs commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, according to local press reports.
The MediaGuardian website cited un-named sources as saying that BBC Worldwide would not be included in assets to be sold by the government, while a Treasury spokeswoman said that there was Âno commitment to sell the unit, which had been included on a list of assets earmarked for possible future sale by the previous Labour government.
BBC director-general Mark Thompson last year signaled his opposition to a sale by saying that such a move could lead to the company becoming worth only a fraction of its present value.