News Broadcasting
Beat that ESS tells Sony, announces OCSI rights acquisition
NEW DELHI: It’s war out there in the cricket broadcasting arena. Sony Entertainment Television may have ICC cricket, including the next two World Cups, but for sheer breadth of coverage, it is ESPN Star Sports (ESS) that has it.
ESS, a joint venture between ESPN Asia and Star Group, today announced the acquisition of telecast rights of all international cricket from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and England (the OCSI territories) for a period of five years from 2003 to 2008. Estimated cost of acquisition: around to $ 140 million.
With the acquisition of 805 days of additional days of cricket telecast of 110 tests and one-day internationals in which India will feature in 17 tests and one-day series. The broadcast will go out to millions of fans across India and other countries that are covered by the footprint of the Asiasat 3 satellite. The total number of days of cricket with ESS now amount to 1,108 days of cricket till 2007, compared to about 153 days of cricket telecast rights that has been bagged by Sony Entertainment TV India till 2007 which includes the two cricket World Cups.
ESS is also set to announce within two weeks new programming and marketing initiatives to exploit the total number of cricket telecast days it has at its disposal.
“With this acquisition we hope to maintain the our leadership position (where telecasting of sports events are concerned) in India,” Manu Sawhney, managing director of ESPN Software India told indiantelevision.com after a press conference in Delhi.
Though Sawhney put forward a defensive bat of “no comment” to a query on the acquisition cost of the additional cricket telecast rights, broadcasting industry sources indicated that it was around $ 140 million. The deal, signed on Saturday, has had numbers thrown up that put the cost even as high as $ 200 million. Compare that to the $ 24 million ESS paid out in September 1999 for the telecast rights for the four cricket boards Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe (England was not included as part of the OCSI bid then) from 2000 to 2004 and that gives some idea as to just how competitive this business is. Also, $ 24 million was seen as an astronomical figure to pay for cricket rights then. But then there were more competing bids what with ESS, the Zee Network, Vatsa Television Network and a number of air-time buyers like Stracon India and 21st Century Media all in the race. This time round only three players were seen as bidders for the rights – ESS, Sony Entertainment Television and Ten Sports.
“ESS has held an unparalleled leadership in sports broadcasting across Asia and India over the past six years. The acquisition of this multi-cricket broad deal demonstrates the continued long-term commitment of the shareholders of ESS (to the Indian and Asian market at large),” an ESS statement quoting Rik Dovey, managing director of ESS, said.
The cricket rights include 203 days of cricket from Australia covering tours by India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England, Zimbabwe and New Zealand; 145 days of cricket from South Africa, 207 days of cricket from England, including tours by India, Australia, SA and Pakistan; 120 days of cricket from New Zealand and 130 days of cricket from Zimbabwe.
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.
