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B4U set for launch on 6 May
B4U, the music channel, which is making a hard play at finding its place in the crowded channel bazaar in India, is slated to debut tomorrow, 6 May. The satellite: PAS-4. The service: digital and free to air.
The channel is starting with an eight hour original programming band, to be expanded to 12 hours in the not too distant future. Distribution is in the hands of Modi Entertainment Network,which is distributing the three other channels in the B4U bouquet, FTV, MCM and B4U Movies (to be launched in the next two months).
The Benjamin digital receivers which cable operators need to to receive the service are being given away on payment of a Rs 3,000 deposit with the monthly rental being Rs 250. Gupta says they can be bought outright on payment of Rs 13,000.
B4U CEO Ravi Gupta says the music channel’s purpose is to promote its movie channel. Nevertheless, his target is to get B4U Music into 50 per cent of all Indian cable and satellite homes, that is about 14 million. He points that reports are that B4U is available in 60 per cent of all cable and satellite home in the metros, even before its official launch. “Tests have been on for 10-12 days,” he points out.
The veejay line up is believed to have some former Channel V veejays, apart from some new and young faces.
What chances does it have despite its late entry? The regular Indian urban TV viewing home already receives six music channels: Channel V (in the guise of a youth channel), etc, MTV, Music Asia, Channel Oxygen and ITV. The last two are request channels operated by local cable operators.
Gupta says that the channel is differently positioned as compared to the other channels. “Our Bollywood songs will be whole and not just clips. This apart, we are simply not Bollywood. We have Indipop and fusion music not just from India but from all over the world,” says Gupta. “But our plus point is our packaging; it helps us stand out from the rest.”
The launch ads, however, are emblazoned with leading Bollywood stars like Govinda and Sunjay Dutt. The ads have stars exhorting them to watch them on B4U Music.
” B4U Music is designed to appeal to those individuals who are young at heart,” says Gupta.
The B4U bouquet has backing from four heavyweights: Kishore Lulla (who is the chairman, and also runs movie rights owner Eros), Bharatbhai Shah (who is heavily into Bollywood productions and is also in the diamond trade), Gokul Binani (a metals businessman) and L.N. Mittal (a steel manufacturer and trader).
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.
