News Broadcasting
Sahara One Television changes logo, on-air identity
MUMBAI: They’ve done it yet again! Sahara One Television has once again changed its on-air channel identity and logo.
In order to reflect the dreams and aspirations of the new age Indian woman, the channel will don a new logo from 28 March. Inspired from the blooms of a lotus, the colours and form speak for themselves.
Sahara One Television’s prime time programming revolves around contemporary Indian women minus the saas-bahu sagas in shows like Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki, Haare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan and Kituu Sabb Jantii Hai.
The channel had last changed its logo in October 2004.
Sahara One Television’s various phases of transition
Sahara One Television’s new logo retains the company’s distinctive saffron and green stripes next to the company name Sahara.
The Singapore based Bruce Dunlop Associates has designed the new on-air look for the channel, with Bollywood music director Shantanu Moitra designing the sound for the new packaging.
“The new logo is designed by Yellow Frog a design outfit of Percept H, part of Percept Holdings Company and gives Sahara One Television the crucial singular visual identity along with colour palettes that give continuity and a never-ending promise. Though the new logo is soft in appeal, it has an inner strength that is exuded via the bloom and the colours. It is interesting to notice that the form that is created for O is inspired from a lotus petal,” said Sahara One Television COO Purnendu Bose.
Speaking on the reason behind changing the logo, Bose said, “The old logo with the diamonds around it was too restrictive and was not flexible. It wasn’t a reflection of the true Indian woman and we wanted a logo that reflected our target audience.”
The channel has also launched an advertising campaing with the protagonists of its prime time shows. The taglines of these campanigs are — ‘Pati Parmeshwar ka time khatam’ and ‘Kit-pit saas ka time khatam.’
“The campaing hits the current stereotype saas-bahu sagas head-on, which have been running on Indian television for the last two years. It reflects our programming strategy that focuses on women of today,” added Bose.
What’s more… since the channel’s key focus audience are women, it has launched a contest exclusively targeted at women viewers called ‘Naya Rang-Cricketers Ke Sang.’
The contest began on 27 March and will run till 8 April. Under the contest one question will be asked between 8 – 10 pm everyday. The viewers have to send their replies by SMS to 9090 or call 1904-424-9090 by 12 noon next day to leave their answers.
The winners stand a chance to win a fully paid trip for the for the last five matches One-Day Internationals to be held from 3 – 15 April with Indian cricketers on a chartered plane.
The winners of Naya Rang-Cricketers Ke Sang contest will be announced on the channel six days prior each match. The winners not only gets to travel, dine and wine with these cricketers but shall also have the privilege to watch the match in exclusive seats.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
