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Pixar could hatch alliance with Time Warner, Fox
MUMBAI: Hollywood’s major media conglomerates are hungrily eyeing Pixar after the animation studio declined to renew its deal with Disney. Two companies said to be in the lead at this stage are Time Warner and Rupert Murdoch’s Fox.
Pixar has to its credit hits such as Finding Nemo which has been nominated for an Oscar. A report in the Dow Jones newswire indicates that Time Warner and Fox Entertainment Group are likely to be the new partners based on their domestic and international film-distribution strengths
In a company release Pixar’s CEO Steve Jobs said that after 10 months of trying to strike a deal with Disney Pixar had decided to move on. In another release Disney’s CFO Tom Staggs said that its management couldn’t accept Pixar’s final offer because it would have cost Disney hundreds of million of dollars it already is entitled to under the existing agreement. Pixar basically wanted a bigger share in the profits.
Pixar has two more films left under its deal with Disney. The Incredibles will be released this year and Cars next year. Under the terms of the separation Disney will retain the rights to distribute the first seven films made under their deal. However anaylsts are of the view that should Pixar strike a distribution deal with Time Warner the media conglomerate might try to strike a deal with Disney to buy the two above mentioned movies.
In recent years Disney’s own movies made under its brand have thus far paled in comparison next to what Pixar has done. Its next film Chicken Little will be released in 2005. Meanwhile a Reuters report indicated that MGM is also inteersted in Pixar. The report stated that Jobs wants a deal similar to the favorable film distribution terms George Lucas has with Twentieth Century Fox for the Star Wars movies.
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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.
