India's Zee Telefilms Ltd appealed to the Supreme Court on Friday against a cricket board decision to ask two rival channels to broadcast the home Test series against Australia, its lawyer said.
The latest twist has left millions of fans anxious about whether they will be able to watch the eagerly awaited clash between the world's top team and a side which has lost just one Test series at home since 1986-87.
The lucrative four-year contract has been mired in controversy from the outset. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had originally awarded the $308-million television rights contract to Zee, the country's largest listed media firm last month, but later cancelled the deal.
"The contract should be honoured. The cancellation of the tender process is illegal. This is our prayer," Maninder Singh, Zee's lawyer, told reporters after the company filed a fresh petition against the cricket board's move.
He said the top court would take up Zee's plea on Tuesday when it resumes hearing of the original petition.
The Indian board suddenly announced on Thursday that the Indian unit of US-based Sony would broadcast the four-Test series starting on October 6 with the Dubai-based TEN Sports channel producing the live feed.
Zee moved the top court after the board cancelled the contract saying it was not final, which came after rival bidder, global giants ESPN Star Sports, challenged Zee's eligibility in a lower court.
Board officials had said they would make arrangements on their own to broadcast the series and officials said they had been in talks with TEN Sports and Sony for many days.
The Sony-TEN Sports arrangement will also continue for next month's two-Test series against South Africa and a one-day game against Pakistan to mark the platinum jubilee of the Indian board.
TEN Sports also have the rights for international cricket in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Sony Television hold the telecast rights for all ICC tournaments until 2007.
TEN Sports and Sony were among the five bidders for India's cricket telecast rights.
The Australian board had said it would reconsider the tour if the matches were not broadcast while the International Cricket Council (ICC) said live pictures for close umpiring decision were required for the matches to go ahead.
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