Comcast is exploring whether the British Sky Broadcasting Group, Britain’s largest satellite broadcaster, could become available for purchase, according to several people briefed on the company’s strategic thinking.

Comcast’s thinking about a possible deal is in the preliminary stages, and the company has not made a formal offer or even approached BSkyB or News Corp., which owns 39 percent of the company, about negotiations, said these people, who were not authorized to speak publicly about the company’s strategy.