The commercial arm of the BBC is planning a substantial push in its international and digital operations in an attempt to double profits to £200m over the next five years, following a disappointing licence fee settlement in January.

The plans are expected to heighten concerns among the corporation’s commercial rivals, but John Smith, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said 2007 was an “inflection point” for the division, adding that there were rising expectations within the BBC for the commercial arm to bridge the funding gap between what the corporation had been seeking and the actual settlement.