Shares in Easynet were up 20% to 116p in early trading on the London stock exchange, following a 10% increase on Friday.

Analysts say that Easynet could be valued at around £150m, implying a share price offer of 130p.

Computer TV

BSkyB told the BBC on Sunday it could not comment on the speculation.

However, a spokesman hinted the company was looking at other ways of connecting with its viewers.

"Sky intends to continue to set the pace of change in media content and distribution," he said.

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Many analysts predict that in the future most TV will be watched via computers.

Instead of programmes being received via a traditional TV aerial, satellite dish or cable connection, they will instead be sent via broadband internet.

Easynet has which has its own equipment in 250 local BT exchanges, giving it direct access to 4.4 million homes and 850,000 businesses in the UK, mainly in the bigger metropolitan areas.

Recently the two leading cable operators in the UK, Telewest and NTL, announced merger plans.