According to reports, the broadcaster raised the cash for its commercial arm following a private placement in the US, with a total of eight investors – mainly pension funds – snapping up the issue.

The BBC issued a seven-year bond as part of a move to diversify its lending profile.

The bonds have an interest rate of 2.71%, and the BBC said the deal was well received by markets, having been over-subscribed a number of times.

“This is a very buoyant market in our experience,” said Stephen Wheatcroft, group treasurer at the BBC, who added the placement had been over five times subscribed. “It establishes a new source of funding for the business, which sits alongside the bank debt, with a high quality group of investors.”

As a public service broadcaster, the BBC’s commercial businesses have a number of restrictions on borrowing, with a £350m limit in place.