News Broadcasting
ATN bags exclusive Canadian rights for Indo-Pak cricket series
MUMBAI: South Asian broadcaster Asian Television Network (ATN) has won exclusive Canadian rights for the India Pakistan Cricket Series 2004, which gets off in right earnest Saturday.
ATN international limited announced it has bagged the exclusive Canadian rights to all forms of video and broadcast distribution live and delayed basis for the upcoming India – Pakistan cricket series. The rights also include television, wireless and all forms of alternative distribution, excluding the Internet, without limitation.
The cricket series consisting of five one day Internationals (ODIs) and three test matches for a total of 20 days, commences tomorrow on 12 March and goes on till 17 April 2004, says a company release.
“We hope this will be bigger than the last world cup and we are absolutely proud to bring this to cricket fans across Canada. We will make it available live on a pay per view basis to all Canadians through cable and Star Choice via Viewer’s Choice and through Bell Express VU Pay Per View. One hour highlights will be shown exclusively on the ATN channel, ” says ATN president and CEO Shan Chandrasekar.
Besides the Indo-Pak cricket series, ATN announced that it has an option to acquire the exclusive Canadian rights from ARYdigital to broadcast all Pakistani home matches vs India, England, Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, West Indies and South Africa through 2008.
It was for the 1987 World Cup that ATN first beamed cricket in Canada and has since been a regular television distributor of the game in Canada.
ATN has programming alliances with leading South Asian broadcasters such as Zee TV, B4U, Sony Entertainment Television Asia, Alpha Punjabi and ARY Digital TV. It has won additional digital licenses from the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) for broadcasting to Canada’s multicultural communities, adds the release.
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.
