The government is considering giving Channel 4 a stake in BBC Worldwide to protect the broadcaster's future.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is looking at the proposal which would see Channel 4 take a share of profits from the BBC's commercial arm, according to The Guardian.

The plan is being considered ahead of March 13 when Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan will unveil his vision of the channel's future role as competition grows in a developing multichannel environment.

Policy makers are said to be looking at "clever alternatives" to simply giving part of the BBC's licence fee to Channel 4, as has previously been suggested.

The broadcaster is also said to have plans to work more closely with public bodies such as local authorities to provide funds for public service programming and internet productions.