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SET plans novel use of STBs
NEW DELHI: With the conditional access system (CAS) gone for a six at least in Delhi and Mumbai, Sony Entertainment TV (SET) India is looking at offering special packages of programmes and services to those subscribers who already have set-top boxes (STBs). This will be in association with multi-system operators (MSOs).
Pointing out that this is the best time for the industry to “move the boxes” in a market-friendly manner, SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta today said, “We are looking at the business opportunity of supplying content on demand to subscribers through STBs, now that the uncertainty over CAS has almost been removed.” Dagupta was interacting with journalists on the sidelines of a press conference here to announce the launch of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin.
Dasgupta was of the opinion that the broadcasters, MSOs and other stakeholders can come together at this time to take advantage of the situation. He said some boxes have been seeded in the market, in anticipation of CAS. His plan can now be leveraged to “move the boxes in the market faster”.
Dasgupta also confirmed that Sony would be part of Zee Group Cable arm Siti Cable’s headend in the sky (HITS) plan for CAS delivery as well as Zee’s direct-to-home (DTH) programme.
His comments are pertinent in the light of the strong assertion made yesterday by Discovery-SET India president Shantanu Aditya refuting a report on indiantelevision.com that the “Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) had directed Star, Sony and ESPN Star Sports to provide signals to the Zee-promoted HITS platform till the next hearing, which is scheduled for 10 September.”
With Dasgupta’s confirmation that SET would be on the HITS platform, the question of the MRTPC issuing a directive becomes superfluous.
Coming back to the subject of supplying content to subscribers through STBs, though SET hasn’t opened up talks with other broadcasters on this, Dasgupta feels that his company would start work on this plan as soon as possible, probably “as soon as next week”.
As an illustration, Dasgupta cited Sony’s acquisition of telecast rights of the blockbuster Hindi movie Saathiya, starring Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukherjee. “Ideally I would like to premier Saathiya as part of this special package over cable for those subscribers who would like to pay to watch this film through their STBs. Later the movie can also be shown on Max or Sony,” he explained.
The special packages of programmes and services that SET India is looking at include movie package, classic music concerts like those of Lata Mangeshkar, sports, and even gaming solutions and music for downloading from the digital cable head-end servers.
“The box, in the absence of CAS, would sit idle. So why not make use of them to provide suck packages and services. I am also looking at introducing gaming packages and this is the way to move the (boxes) market,” Dasgupta said.
He opined that the gaming packages can be sourced from SET India’s parent company Sony, which is a big player in the computer gaming sector worldwide with the likes of Playstation series.
According to Dasgupta, SET India can be ready with such special packages and services “within three months” as Sony is already in the process of digitalising its content.
Meanwhile, Dasgupta feels that with the Shiv Sena staunchly opposed to CAS in Mumbai, addressability issue now would get deferred to after the general elections late next year.
Also Read:
MRTPC directs Star, Sony, ESS to join HITS?
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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.
