News Broadcasting
Doordarshan chooses USVO’S anti-piracy solution
MUMBAI: Indian pubcaster Doordarshan (DD) will be using MediaSentinel to protect their content distribution in a three month trial program.
DD would be among the first of the world’s largest networks and the first public broadcaster to deploy piracy deterrence technology to protect profits by thwarting pirates.
MediaSentinel is an anti-piracy workstation developed by USA Video Interactive Corp.
The trial with Doordarshan was initiated by First Serve Entertainment, Inc., one of Vijay Amritraj’s group of companies, which exclusively represents USVO and markets and sells the MediaSentinel technology in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and non-exclusively in other parts of the world. USVO had announced a marketing agreement with First Serve Entertainment last year.
“This test and use of MediaSentinel by India’s national public broadcaster is to be saluted and commended as the first effort of its kind to deter rampant piracy in a huge marketplace like India, where hundreds of millions of dollars are lost by domestic and foreign producers. We hope others take cue from the public broadcaster. MediaSentinel needs to be deployed if the Indian media and film industry wants to give law enforcement the tool to trace and catch pirates. The Indian government’s initiative should definitely lead a wave of interest across China and the rest of Asia, where piracy is believed to cause billions of dollars of losses,” said First Serve Entertainment Inc chief operating officer Munish Gupta.
“We are very pleased that Doordarshan, one of the most important broadcasters in the world, has chosen to test and try MediaSentinel for their anti-piracy needs. We will be working hard to ensure this is a successful trial and the first step towards a smooth integration of MediaSentinel into Doordarshan’s operations as the frontline solution protecting their intellectual property. This deal validates our anti-piracy solution, our international sales efforts, and our partnership with First Serve Entertainment,” said USVO chief executive officer Edwin Molina.
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.
