News Broadcasting
CASBAA convention to address television industry issues
MUMBAI: Asian pay TV growth, video piracy, opportunities from China and the roll-out of 3G services will top the agenda when the regions leading broadcasters and satellite and cable operators meet this year at the annual Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) Convention in Hong Kong from 27-29 October.
“This is a great time for the regions cable and satellite broadcasters to come together, with massive opportunities opening up in China and from the genuine convergence of broadband and wireless technologies,” said CASBAA chairman Marcel Fenez.
“The China wireless market alone, with more than 300 million subscribers and a fast-growing mobile data segment, is one of the worlds great media and entertainment prospects. The CASBAA event is where the industry meets to understand the market dynamics and meet the decision-makers.”
The CASBAA Convention 2004 will hear from senior broadcast and studio executives, specialists on technology, and regulation and industry leaders from growing markets such as China, Korea and India.
Among the keynote addresses, Sony Pictures Television International president Michael Grindon and Star Group CEO Michelle Guthrie will speak on corporate strategies in the current industry environment, GE chief marketing officer Beth Comstock will give the global view on Asian advertising, and Harmonic Convergent Systems president Yaron Simler will examine the impact of digital video.
One panel session will reveal new estimates on the impact of pay-TV piracy in the region and the latest strategies in tackling theft of content, and another will be devoted to advertising and advertising agencies.
On Day two, the technology spotlight will be on wireless content and MMORPGs Massively Multi-player Online Role-Playing Games.
The Day three fora will be devoted wholly to the China market, with sessions on wireless entertainment and business models for digital content. China International TV Corp president Li Jian will speak on the Chinese media groups global ambitions.
CASBAA CEO Simon Twiston Davies said this years line-up of speakers and topics goes well beyond the pay TVs industry traditional boundaries.
“With the focus on the key areas of advertising, technology and the China market, we examine some of the central issues of the day,” Twiston Davies said. “The conference is all about approaching the new convergence technologies as platforms for delivery of multi-channel content.”
He said the event has also extended into vertical markets such as wireless and multimedia content which are becoming increasingly important to Asian pay TV operators and content owners.
The CASBAA Convention 2004 will be held at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 27-29 October, presented by InvestHK and with CableTV and StarTV as official partners.
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.
