The BBC's Kathryn Robinson explains what's in it for the clubs: money

Satellite channel BSkyB, owned by Rupert Murdoch, wants to begin experiments with pay-per-view in the 1998-1999 season.

If approved, the move will see:

• Four games moved from the traditional Saturday to Sunday from September 13.
  
• Fans charged up to £10 to watch these games between leading teams.
  
• Up to 144 more games broadcast in the first year's trial of pay-per-view.
  
• More money for the clubs from BSkyB as it rolls out its digital tlevision services.

Existing subscription coverage paid for by sports fans will continue during the experiment which BSkyB is using to see how it can bankroll its digital television services.

Fans will have to pay for a decoder

But if it goes ahead, it will provoke fury from many fans and supporters' associations who will be asked to invest in a £200 digital signal decoder, on top of present subscriptions to Sky Sports channels.

Another key stumbling block may be met if the chairmen break with decades of tradition and allow BSkyB to broadcast on Saturdays.

Any attempt to broadcast Saturday's games will be met with stiff opposition from the sports' European governing body, Uefa, which forbids broadcasts on the traditional football day of the week.

Supported by big guns

Ryan Giggs' Manchester United support the concept of pay-per-view

Pay per view is already backed by some of the country's largest clubs including Manchester United.

But while the move may net the leading clubs extra revenue from fans around the country, it will face stiff opposition from other areas.

Teams in the lower Nationwide leagues could see attendances drop if fans take to watching top clubs by pay-per-view, a fear shared by some Premiership chairmen who oppose the system in their grounds.