The BBC is considering launching an international licence fee that would allow it to charge overseas visitors to view programming content on its websites. Such a move would let the corporation expand its web streaming operations.

The initiative, which is to be funnelled through BBC.com and the recently secured domain name, BBCnews.com, has come to the forefront of BBC international online policy since the TV licensing authority was quoted as saying all users accessing the streamed broadcasts had to have a licence fee.

At present BBC.co.uk streams selected parts of its news programming and is planning to migrate library clips to the internet as part of its Project Irene initiative. However current narrowband technology is holding back faster development of streaming initiatives. This is not expected to change for several years.

According to Drew Kaza, managing director of BBC Internet & Interactive, the rights issue is under discussion although his priority is to launch BBC.com in the next few months, initially with just text and stills and some streaming.

He said: "We're making progress there, but we won't be able to do much initially. It could be a decent long-term business proposition for the BBC if it's not held back by those that think there is a huge pot of gold out there."

Mr Kaza added that the other key issue for the BBC's international commercial portals was using redirection technology that is able to determine where an internet user is coming from and direct them to the relevant site.

He said the system was "pretty much there" and was able to differentiate European users from the IP addresses and American users from the time clock settings on their PCs.

In terms of how the money will be collected, the BBC is considering two options: either developing a pay-per-view service or charging a set subscription, which would give access to an archive of BBC programming.

Mr Kaza, however, said it might be five years before consumers are willing to pay to watch programming via the internet.