The BBC Worldwide chief executive, John Smith, is confident a deal to form a joint venture with Channel 4 will be signed within weeks following the tabling of a new streamlined proposal that he claims has gained traction with both parties.

Smith said the new proposition would pull in parts of Channel 4’s operation, including ad sales as well as using its strong heritage in genres such as gardening, property and food.

Communications minister Lord Carter had urged a final plan to be submitted for inclusion in last month’s Digital Britain report. The failure to do so left the report calling weakly for further discussions on “the practical and strategic implications of further structural separation”.

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