Licensees could begin charging pub-goers to watch football matches if Sky fees continue to rise.
Pubs in Dundee have become the first in the country to propose a fee for customers who want to watch the matches on Sky - but licensees have been warned that the move may breach the terms of their licence.
Publicans north of the border say they are considering the move because they are struggling to pay the fees charged by the satellite giant and need to recoup some of their costs. If the scheme takes off it is likely to be replicated elsewhere in the UK.
The Dundee Licensed Trade Association's president, Jonathan Stewart, said that increasing numbers of licensees were taking Sky out of their pubs because of the increase in costs and the fact that they do not have the rights to the Scottish Premier League.
"We are broaching the concept of providing packages while events are showing," Mr Stewart said. "This would mean that customers could pay a fee which would include a pre-booked seat, table-service and food at half-time," he added.
Sky has also condemned the move as illegal as it says licensees could be breaking the law. Sky said: "Due to Sky's obligations to rights holders we have to prohibit subscribers from redistributing channels or making a charge for viewing or exhibiting channels where the audience has paid for admission either directly or indirectly. Any subscriber doing so would be in breach of their contract with Sky."
This follows news last month that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is not to take any action against Sky over its commercial service to pubs.
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OFT to take no further action over Sky (23 August 2002)