It is understood that ITV Digital, which is owned by Carlton and Granada, wants to cut by as much as a third what it pays to broadcast matches from the first, second and third divisions.
ITV Digital is desperate to save money and renegotiating its contract with the Football League is seen as a key way of doing this.
The Football League will likely want to keep the deal in place and it could result in a lengthy and acrimonious legal battle.
Sport is one of the key planks of ITV Digital's strategy for attracting new viewers, because there is no other way for viewers to see these games unless they subscribe.
It highlights a new reluctance among media companies to overpay for sports rights.
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