News Broadcasting
Ten Sports climbs into top 100 shows thanks to Fifa World Cup
It’s may be a great brand positioning statement they said. But in India its only cricket that everyone watches, they said. Well, the Fifa World Cup, which ended on Sunday (and left large swathes of the globe with a serious case of soccer hangover) has left its impact even on cricket-crazy India.
Ratings data for the week ended 22 June (all C&S households) show that Ten Sports, which had the telecast rights for the soccer spectacle, has been able to make it to the top 100 programmes list.
Three quarterfinals of the game entered the top 100 shows, according to data released by TAM. The England vs Brazil match on 21 June ranked 54th in the top shows of the week among 4+ C&S audiences across the country, with a TVR of 3.05. The next day’s quarterfinal matches also ensured a place for themselves in the top shows, ranked at 80 and 84th place. The match between Spain and Korea drew a TVR of 2.67 while the one between Senegal and Turkey drew a TVR of 2.66.
While ESPN Star had been insisting that cricket held sway even when the World Cup began, the latter half of the Fifa championship seems to have caught the fancy of viewers. Viewership for the World Cup in the week ended 8 June had shot up considerably in the metros, according to TAM. Reports had indicated that the Argentina versus England match recorded a rating of 3.3 as compared to the previous week’s high of 1.45 TVR.
The India-West Indies one dayer on 2 June had however done much better effortlessly with a TVR of 6.31 on 2 June, helping ESPN to climb into the top 100 shows in C&S homes at number 13, according to TAM.
Select cities like Kolkata and Cochin reacted favourably to the soccer matches from day one. However, metros like Delhi and Mumbai caught on only after the last week.
Sunday’s finals between Brazil and Germany, which saw the Samba Kings win their fifth World Cup, had a global television audience estimated to be 1.5 billion, the largest ever in history. What ratings the the match drew in India should make for interesting viewing. Especially considering that the same day saw the Indian cricket team put on a steller performance in defeating Sri Lanka in the Natwest tri-series currently on in England. The match was telecast on Star Sports.
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.
