Italy's two digital television platforms, Tele Piu and Stream have rejected a combined 80 million euro deal with the eight clubs.

'It is obvious that if there is no accord, we will find alternative solutions for those eight clubs in Serie A without television contracts,' League president Adriano Galliani told the daily Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday.

'We would play four at home and four away at different times....so that the matches could be sold to private companies, in syndication or to pay TV,' Galliani added.

The uncertainty surrounding the television deals, a vital source of income for clubs, is adding to the woes of Italian clubs who are already having to deal with heavy losses and growing debts.

The League chief also said that the big clubs who have contracts would support the eight by not agreeing to play games in the evening for television purposes.

'This is our way to put pressure on the television companies. It is not a threat but it is our only way to protect and therefore to sell the matches of the eight clubs. I hope though that we won't reach that stage,' said Galliani.

NIGHTS OUT

Should the threat be carried out, games would be spread across different kick off times throughout the weekend with the pay channels missing out on the popular late Sunday night clashes between the big teams.

That would allow the eight to sell the rights to each game on an individual match-by-match basis but would lead to fixture chaos for fans.

The eight teams without contracts are Atalanta, Brescia, Chievo, Perugia, Piacenza and promoted Empoli, Como and Modena.

Loss-making Stream and Telepiu are seeking to reduce the prize of rights for smaller teams but are tied into long-term deals with some of the big-name clubs. Further financial strife looms if a proposed merger between the two goes through.

Juventus have a contract with Telepiu which runs until the end of the 2004-05 season and last year pocketed 59.39 million euro from the deal, Gazzetta said.

The League are also without an agreement yet with state television station RAI for a highlights package.

Gazzetta said RAI have offered to pay little more than half of last season's 89 million euro ($89.69 million) deal.

'We won't sell the product at the price proposed by RAI,' said Galliani.

'The turnover for RAI for 2002 is perfectly in line with that of 2001. I don't see why the amount paid last year should be dramatically reduced.

'They are offering 40-50 percent less, there is no logic in this move, why is football being so undervalued by the management of RAI?' said Galliani.