The corporation — already embroiled in the controversy over the Iraq dossier and the death of David Kelly, the weapons expert — could face criticisms from licence fee payers and broadcasting lobby groups of empire-building.
If it takes over news coverage on Five, previously known as Channel 5, the corporation would supply output for three of the five terrestrial channels in addition to its digital and satellite outlets.
Five has approached the corporation about providing bulletins once its £6m-a-year contract with ITN expires next year.
Five is trying to move upmarket and away from its previous reputation as a home for soft porn. It is introducing more arts programmes.
The channel has made a name for itself with more relaxed news presentation. Kirsty Young, the newscaster, often delivers bulletins perched on the edge of her desk.
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Its invitation to the BBC is likely to antagonise the corporation’s critics and would be a major blow to ITN. The news provider has already had to cut the price it charges on its other news contracts with ITV and Channel 4.
This is the first time that any commercial channel has approached the BBC to bid for its news output.
It comes just a few weeks after the arrival of Five’s new chief executive, Jane Lighting, who used to run the cable company Flextech.
The BBC is already in a joint venture with Flextech to deliver channels such as UK Gold.
The BBC’s initial response is that it is “hugely flattered” to be considered as Five’s news supplier, but it realises there may be conflicts of interest.
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“Would it be all right under the fair trading rules?” asked one senior BBC news executive this weekend.
“At the end of the day it would be up to the department of culture to decide.”