News Broadcasting
Al Jazeera International works to get distribution in place ahead of early ’06 launch
MUMBAI: They say the younger one generally has it easier. One can’t say whether that will be the case for Al Jazeera International, the soon to launch English sibling of the Qatar-based Arabic channel that has had such a huge global impact since its arrival less than a decade ago. But what is certain is that every possible effort is being made to ensure a smooth take-off in March 2006 for a channel that has in its target sights the likes of BBC and CNN.
And a key factor in that smooth take-off would be to what extent the channel manages distribution and carriage deals by launch day in March. For Al Jazeera International’s commercial director Lindsey Oliver (formerly general counsel and network director of CNBC Europe), the toughest challenge will likely come in getting deals in place in the US. Whether it be big DTH operators like DirecTV and Echostar or cable giants like Comcast and Cox, getting carriage for the sister channel of one that US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and others have riled against as “consistently lying” and “working in concert with terrorists” will be no mean task.
Oliver told indiantelevision.com during a media briefing at the recently concluded Mipcom 2005 in Cannes that “discussions are on across all the major English speaking regions” to sew up deals ahead of Al Jazeera International’s March launch. Oliver, however, could not provide any inputs on whether any carriage deals were yet in place. If Oliver does manage to cross what still remains a big hurdle, there are few who doubt that the channel will find a ready audience.
One striking aspect of Al Jazeera’s new English language initiative is that the core team is made up mostly of personnel drawn for the BBC and ITV. Which harks back to the circumstances that led to the formation of the Arabic channel. Al Jazeera came into being from capital provided by the emir of Qatar in April 1996 following a decision by the BBC to shut the World Service’s Arabic television station. The 250 journalists who would have been rendered jobless by the decision moved en masse to Al Jazeera and the rest as they say is history.
There is a huge irony in the BBC’s confirmation yesterday that it is dismantling 10 of its World Service radio services (mostly operating out of East Europe) and redirecting its resources to launch, what else but, an Arabic-language television station to take on Al Jazeera. A further irony is that the BBC’s Arabic channel is already facing credibility issues of its own with critics accusing it of being a part of an American co-ordinated propaganda drive.
That is of course a separate story. As regards Al Jazeera International, it will headquartered in Doha, Qatar with three more broadcasting centres strategically placed across the world in Kuala Lumpur, London, and Washington D.C. and dozens of news bureaux worldwide.
That the proposition has convinced many was well highlighted by the signing up of Sir David Frost – who has interviewed seven US presidents and six British prime ministers – as its big-name presenter. Indian viewer’s will meanwhile, remember Riz Khan, who is also a high profile face on the channel, earlier with CNN.
News presenter Hassan Ibrahim told indiantelevision.com that the channel’s strength is that it is multicultural, free, and hard-hitting. “It will give respect back to the camera. What the camera sees is what we (will) report,” said Ibrahim.
Said programme director Paul Gibbs, “There is the younger demographic and an older demographic that forms our TG.”
One key differentiator the channel hopes to leverage is its strong slate of features driven programmes, for which Gibbs said a whole lot of outsourcing is being done. Gibbs revealed that an extranet site would be up in the coming weeks where interested producers could pitch their programming proposals.
Summing up, Gibbs said that “our multicultural staff will provide the glue and open mindedness will be our credo.”
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.
