Rupert Murdoch-controlled Twenty-First Century Fox has held talks to sell most of the company to Walt Disney Co, US broadcaster CNBC reports.

The CNBC report said the two sides were not talking currently, but had held talks in the last few weeks, reflecting a view among Fox managers that the firm could not gain the size needed to compete with Amazon, Netflix and other major media players.

A Disney spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment while Fox was not immediately available for comment.

Disney, which under US rules could not own two broadcast networks, would not purchase all of Fox, CNBC reported, citing the same sources.

Disney would not seek to buy Fox’s sports programming assets for fear of running foul of antitrust laws with its own ESPN network, and would also not buy Fox News or Fox’s local broadcasting affiliates, the report said.

In addition to the movie studio, TV production and international assets such as Star and B Sky B, Disney would take entertainment network FX and National Geographic, the report added.

Fox’s shares rose 5.8 per cent to $US26.40 ($A34.35) in afternoon trading in response to the report. Disney’s shares were up 1.2 per cent at $US99.86 ($A130).