iWorld
BSE seeks & gets clarification on Eros Now-RelianceJio deal
MUMBAI: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which had sought clarification from Eros International Media Ltd on a partnership with Reliance Jio, has been told that the deal pertains to US-based parent Eros International Plc and not the India-listed entity.
On 25 August, Eros International had announced a deal between its over-the -top (OTT) platform Eros Now and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio, which is slated to launch its telecom services soon offering subscribers high- speed broadband and other related services.
The Eros Now service with its huge library of Bollywood movies, including recent blockbusters such asBajrangi Bhaijaan, Bajirao Mastaani, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, will power Jio’s on-demand entertainment offering.
The company in its announcement yesterday claimed the “game changing partnership” with Reliance Jio will allow consumers to access high quality Eros Now service within the Jio ecosystem. Jio will provide Eros Now with an opportunity to acquire new subscribers throughout urban and rural India, the company had stated.
Eros International group CEO and MD Jyoti Deshpande was quoted in an official statement as saying , “As a market leader in the film business, Eros has always strived to bring our users the best of Indian entertainment, offering them the same unified experience across screens and networks. Eros Now’s philosophy is to be platform agnostic and embrace the very best in technology as we continuously enhance our content offering. With the broadband and 4G stage set to explode, our alliance with Jio is part of our philosophy to provide consumers entertainment whenever and wherever they want it.”
Eros Now has over 44 million registered users across Web, WAP and APP globally and is available across 135 countries with a vast majority of users from India. Currently it’s focused on monetization and achieving a target of one million paying subscribers by the end of fiscal year 2017.
With a pricing of Rs. 49 ($0.73) per month for a streaming service and Rs. 99 ($1.47) per month, which has additional features such as offline viewing, high definition, subtitles and progressive viewing, the Eros Now service is competitively priced in India compared to other OTT services offering Indian language and international content, the company had claimed.
iWorld
Tech firms tweak office operations amid LPG shortage concerns
Infosys, HCLTech and Cognizant adjust cafeteria services and work policies.
MUMBAI: When geopolitics turns up the heat, even office cafeterias start feeling the burn. Several technology companies in India are adjusting workplace operations and food services as concerns over a nationwide shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) grow following escalating tensions in West Asia. Major IT firms including Cognizant, Infosys and HCLTech have begun rolling out contingency measures to reduce dependence on office cafeterias that rely heavily on commercial LPG.
The disruption stems from rising geopolitical tensions involving Iran after military action by the United States and Israel reportedly led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for oil and gas supplies. The closure has disrupted the movement of LPG and liquefied natural gas across international markets, triggering concerns about supply constraints and price volatility.
According to a report by The Times of India, Cognizant has advised employees to bring their own meals to office where possible to reduce reliance on office cafeterias dependent on LPG based cooking.
The company has reportedly told staff that it is preparing for potential disruptions driven by supply prioritisation, price fluctuations and pressure on vendor networks.
As part of contingency planning, Cognizant is identifying alternative food vendors that do not rely on LPG. These include kitchens using induction based or solar powered cooking systems.
The company is also exploring partnerships with cloud kitchens that operate on electric or solar power to ensure uninterrupted food supply in case conventional cooking gas availability worsens.
Additionally, Cognizant is evaluating the possibility of expanding work from home or hybrid arrangements for non critical roles, partly to reduce commuting exposure if fuel prices rise sharply due to global energy disruptions.
Meanwhile, HCLTech allowed employees at its Chennai office to work from home on March 12 and March 13 after cafeteria vendors were unable to operate because of the LPG shortage.
Several food service vendors at the campus reportedly suspended operations as they struggled to secure cooking gas supplies, prompting the company to permit staff to work remotely for the two days.
Infosys has also issued internal advisories across multiple locations, including its campuses in Bengaluru and Chennai.
The company informed employees in Bengaluru that cafeteria services would continue but with reduced menu options due to concerns around commercial LPG availability.
As part of the temporary adjustments, live food counters have been suspended, and employees have been encouraged to bring home cooked food while the situation evolves.
While LPG shortages in India remain a developing situation, the measures taken by these technology firms highlight how global geopolitical disruptions can ripple through unexpected corners of the economy, even the humble office lunch.
For companies with large campuses and thousands of employees relying on daily cafeteria services, cooking fuel shortages can quickly turn into an operational challenge. Until global supply chains stabilise, many workplaces may find themselves rethinking everything from food sourcing to flexible work policies.
