BBC Tries for Alliance With ABC, Source Says

British Broadcasting Corp. may pitch a plan to U.S. television network ABC for a transatlantic alliance, as merger talks between ABC News and its U.S. rival CNN appear to have stalled, a BBC source said.

However, ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider played down prospects for a deal with the BBC.

The BBC and ABC already have an agreement, in place since 1993, to share video footage and other news material.

The BBC has not approached ABC’s parent, Walt Disney Co., Schneider said. The Financial Times reported that the British company is reluctant to intervene until ABC and CNN, owned by AOL Time Warner Inc., break off their talks.