The BBC is investigating the possibility of allowing advertisements to feature on its international websites, a move which could net the corporation as much as £100 million in revenues.

Demand for ad space on any of the BBC's homepages is expected to be strong and management consultancy firm Accenture has been brought in to outline the available options.

There are believed to be three courses of action available to the corporation, which - depending on the amount and type of online advertising allowed - bring in sums of either £105 million, £64 million or £48 million per year, according the Guardian.

The paper quotes sources within the BBC as saying that plans to feature video advertisements and "two-column skyscraper" promotions are currently under consideration.

A BBC statement read: "Our plans are at the moment work in progress as many of the parameters of the proposal are still under discussion and are naturally commercially confidential."

The BBC intends to move much of its operations from London to a new site in Greater Manchester in coming years.