MUMBAI: Ten Sports has submitted a proposal before the Bombay High Court expressing its willingness to share the cricket telecast feed with Doordarshan only in rural India's non-cable markets.

In the proposal, the channel said it was ready to provide feed of sports events to Prasar Bharati in the rural Very Low Power Transmission (VLPT) areas, where cable is not available, as an interim measure.

The court is hearing a petition filed by Ten Sports challenging the government's recent policy guideline which makes it mandatory for sports channels having TV broadcasting rights to share their feed with Prasar Bharati for national and international sporting events held in India or abroad.

According to a PTI report, Ten Sports argued that the issue of public interest, with regard to the right to watch international cricket matches involving India, arises only in case of rural areas because in those areas cable TV is by and large non-existent. Ten argued that in the metros Prasar Bharati can't demand the feed of cricket matches as cable TV is easily available there.

The Information and Broadcasting ministry counsel opposed Ten Sports' proposal, saying that even in urban areas many people don't have access to cable TV. Justice Ranjana Desai and justice Abhay Oka adjourned the hearing and indicated they will pass an order tomorrow.

It shall be recalled that Espn Star Sports (ESS) has also moved the Delhi High Court challenging some of the clauses in the downlink guidelines. After an initial hearing, the matter has been kept for further arguments after the court's winter vacation ends early next year. The ESS petition has also made the Prasar Bharati a party to the case.