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Digitisation key to media & entertainment: Ernst & Young
MUMBAI: Digitisation is the single most important technology trend that is continuing to reshape the media and entertainment landscape in the more developed markets of Europe and the US, according to the consulting firm Ernst & Young.
Digital cable and satellite, digital video recorders (DVRs), online content distribution and the mainstreaming of electronic games are likely to impact companies working in old world models.
“The cable and satellite story is powerful, but other sectors will thrive as well,” remarks the Ernst & Young report on “Fast Forward: Technology propels media and entertainment CEOs into the Future” .
Cable companies have high earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) and are growing twice as fast. Broadcast TV, radio and margin operate on margins hovering around 40 per cent, while the other sectors bunch up between 8-15 per cent.
Technology will put the industry on fast forward, the report said. DVR will be the only technology that will have the maximum impact on the future of media and entertainment over the next few years. Balsara pointed out that studies have shown that DVRs are going to slow down and even bleed the broadcast TV industry. DVRs resulted in the TV industry letting go of 1.7 per cent of advertising revenue in 2003. That is going to balloon to a fat 12.5 per cent by 2007.
Ernst & Young interviewed 23 global media and entertainment CEOs, CFOs and leading financial stakeholders for compiling the report. The companies that participated in this global study accounted for combined annual revenues of $214 billion (FY03).
Presenting the report on Tuesday, Ernst & Young head of media and entertainment practice Farokh Balsara said broadband Internet access and online advertising would become a key source for entertainment advertising.
Ernst & Young had invited CEOs and senior executives of Indian companies to a function where the report was presented. AP Parigi was the chief guest, while Ernst & Young’s John Harley and Indiantelevision.com CEO Anil Wanvari were among those who spoke on the occasion.
And industry turned up in large numbers: Sony Picture’s Uday Singh, NDTV’s Raj Nayak, Media Turf’s V. Ramani, Lodestar Media’s Nandini Dias, Hansa Consulting’s Pravin Tripathi, Triton Communications’ Ali Merchant, TAM India’s Atul Phadnis, Aaj Tak’s Nikita Tulsian, Lemon’s Ravi Deshpande were amongst the ones who graced the evening.
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.
