News Broadcasting
Chabin re-appointed as Promax/BDA CEO for 5 more years
MUMBAI: Promax/BDA CEO Jim Chabin has got his tenure extended for five more years. This was announced by Promax/BDA chairmen Michael Benson (ABC Television Network) and Steve Kazanjian (DZN Media).
Recognising his invaluable contributions to revitalising the world’s premiere trade organization for promotion, marketing and design professionals in electronic media, Jim Chabin, chief executive officer for the associations since 2002, has agreed to remain with the organization until 2010, said the joint-announcement.
“As a non-profit association, Promax/BDA has been challenged to raise the profile and quality of work produced by our industry at a time when competition is unrelenting, budgets are constantly scrutinized and time is the enemy,” said Benson. “Jim not only stepped into a difficult position, he stepped up to the plate, inspiring our members and reminding the industry as a whole that the exchange of information, experience and ideas makes all of us better and, in turn, benefits the companies we work for and with. We have the utmost faith in Jim’s ability to build this organization for the future of our industry.”
Added Kazanjian: “Our goal as an organization is to identify the competitive challenges facing our members and their companies and to target practical ways of meeting them. In the three years that Jim has been back at the helm, he has met and expanded on those goals while also reaching out to and encouraging the next generation of promotion, marketing, and design professionals. We’re fortunate to have him on our team and look forward to the next five years.”
“We often hear that if we love our work, are passionate about what we do, we will be successful,” said Chabin. “I am deeply passionate about the vital role that marketing, promotion and design play in the global marketplace and take great pride in trumpeting the achievements of individual members and our community as a whole. And while there are still real challenges and hurdles to conquer, I believe we can mine the collective intelligence of these two organizations to develop and share manageable solutions that will propel the art of marketing and promotion to unimaginable accomplishments.”
Chabin originally served as president of the Promax/BDA organization from 1992 to 1999. Later he joined the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. During his three year absence, the industry faced widespread economic downturn which had a significant impact on the promotion, marketing and design community. Turning to the man who was largely responsible for catapulting the associations into the worldwide spotlight, Promax/BDA Board of Directors wooed Chabin back to spearhead a revitalisation of the organization in November of 2002, states an official release.
Under Chabin’s leadership over the past three years, the associations have expanded the global reach of the organization with the addition of conferences and award programs in Arabia, China and India in addition to invigorating annual events already held for members in North America, Europe, Latin America and the UK. Promax/BDA is also expanding into Africa and the Russian broadcast market. The organization also introduced international one-day promotion and marketing seminars in many key Asian territories last year including Bangkok, Manila, Hong Kong and Jakarta, the release adds.
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.
