News Broadcasting
Ten not amused as DD bids to extract maximum from telecast
NEW DELHI: Kal Ho Na Ho (if tomorrow never comes). Even as pubcaster Doordarshan made a neat killing by airing advertisements booked by it while relaying Ten Sports signals for Saturday’s humdinger of a cricket match in Pakistan, the scenario looks like heading for another round of TEN-sions on Monday if the SupremeCourt is unable to dispose off the matter when it here’s further arguments in the case.
Apart from the DD angle, there is also the issue of increasing the connectivity of Ten Sports because most of Mumbai is still to be brought alive, while Hathway, which has about 40 per cent of the Delhi and neighbouring areas’ cable and satellite home share amongst the multi-system operators is refusing to play ball with Ten and its distribution agent, Modi Entertainment Network.
Hathway Delhi is contending that Ten/MEN’s demand for a “five-fold increase” in subscription base, which would amount to a huge outflow of money, is not sustainable.
Second, Hathway Delhi has also pointed out that its annual contract with Ten runs through till 31 March, 2004 and before that any demand in increase in subscriber base would amount to a breach of contract on Ten’s part.
A senior executive of Hathway Delhi, when quizzed on the issue, gave an evasive reply, saying, ” We’ll see what the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict is and then we’ll take a call.”
Hathway Delhi, which obtained a stay from the Delhi high court yesterday on the contractual obligations of Ten/MEN as per the agreement signed last April, services Delhi’s neighboring areas like Faridabad, Sahibabad, Gurgaon, along with scattered operations of other MSOs and some independent cable ops.
While admitting that, in Delhi, Hathway is a “bit of a problem”, MEN’s Lalit Modi yesterday had said sooner than later most cable operators would fall in line.
According to Modi, more and more cable ops have been signing up for Ten and in most of major cities and other metros, including RPG in Kolkata, between 60-70 per cent of the deals have been concluded. In most places the joint venture partners of Siti Cable too have signed up with Ten.
But unlike in the past, the cable ops in Delhi and Mumbai have not panicked. As national cable & Telecom Association’s Vikki Chowdhry pointed out today, “There is no use signing up or taking a decision in a hurry. the Supreme Court’s verdict may change the whole scenario over the coming days.
Meanwhile, Ten indicated that it would bring to the notice of the SC on Monday how DD played truant and did not carry its logo while relaying Ten’s signals on the terrestrial network for at least one and a half hours in the morning today when the match started.
Further, on the basis of the free signals made available to it, DD said that it has earned about Rs 60 million in advertising revenue from Saturday’s match.
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.
