Sky are considering making Premier League highlights freely available after matches this season in a move that could hit viewing figures for the BBC's Match of the Day.

Sky bosses are giving serious thought to broadcasting three-minute clips of key moments on YouTube shortly after games finish. A clips package has always been part of the deal for Sky, but until now they have not taken up the option of making highlights available to non-paying viewers beyond short in-play clips on social media. Beyond that, clips were available to subscribers on the Sky app and to subscribers to News UK publications.

But the BBC have mostly had it their own way when it comes to airing their long-form highlights show on Saturday and Sunday nights.

BBC's Match of the Day highlights show (hosted by Gary Lineker) is under threat from Sky

Sky are considering making Premier League highlights freely available after games this season

They are giving serious thought to showing three-minute clips of key moments on YouTube

Insiders insist the initiative by Sky should not be of any great concern to the BBC, because the clips on YouTube will not be accompanied by expert analysis or extend to anything like as long as Match of the Day's coverage of games.

Sky would also insist that fans who watch highlights on their smart phones represent a different demographic to the traditional Match of the Day audience.

But three-minute clips of matches that fans can watch before the BBC show - hosted by Gary Lineker - is aired are sure to concern senior figures at the national broadcaster.

Insiders insist the initiative by Sky should not be of any great concern to the BBC

They feel fans watching on their smart phones would represent a different demographic

In January last year, it was announced that Match of the Day would remain on the BBC until 2022 after they retained the rights to screen highlights of Premier League matches in the UK.

The Premier League said that in an 'open and competitive' auction, the BBC had won the right to show highlights of English football's top tier with a bid of £211.5million.

That represented a rise of £7.5m on the previous deal.