The broadcast regulator Ofcom has asked News Group newspapers for more documents relating to phone hacking.
It wants the papers as part of its ongoing inquiry into whether BSkyB is a "fit and proper" owner of a broadcasting licence.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is the parent company of both News Group, which owned the News of the World newspaper, and part-owner of BSkyB.
Ofcom wants to see documents disclosed in the civil cases over phone hacking.
The BBC's business editor Robert Peston said it was the first confirmation that the malpractices at the News of the World are material to Ofcom's decision about whether BSkyB, which is 39%-owned by News Corp, is fit and proper to hold a broadcasting licence.
He says it raises the possibility that News Corp could be forced to materially reduce its shareholding, so that it would no longer be seen to have a material influence over BSkyB.
Ofcom said in a statement: "Ofcom is gathering evidence which may assist it in assessing whether BSkyB is and remains fit and proper to continue to hold its broadcast licences.
"As part of this ongoing assessment, Ofcom has contacted News Group Newspapers requesting documents which it understands are held by the company and which may be relevant to this assessment.
"BSkyB is party to this correspondence."
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