News Broadcasting
Channels seek clarity, relevance from animation producers
MUMBAI: One of the sessions at Frames focused on what content channels like Cartoon Networks, Disney expect from the production houses and studios.
Walt Disney Television International (South East Asia/Korea) VP, MD Raymund Miranda said, “From an editorial perspective the first thing that goes into our minds is does the product you are pitching fit the Disney brand? The Disney brand is family oriented and trustworthy. We have to be custodians of our brand
“The second tick mark is relevance to kids. For instance for our preschool block we check to see if the social and mechanical skills of the child are being addressed. We follow the principle of the whole child curriculum here. The third criteria are the brand values of the proposition being made by the production house. What is the story like? How is it being told? This includes not just the animation quality but also the dubbing, editing. The product should be able to occupy a special place in the heart of our viewers.”
Turner Entertainment Networks Asia executive director programming and acquisitions Marc Buhaj said, “The product must be relevant to the 4-14 year block. I also urge the production houses to study the channels before pitching their products. That way they will get an idea of the direction the channels are moving in and what the different requirements are. The stories should also spark with positive and creative qualities. We also expect that the producer would have fully fleshed out the story idea in terms of the script, the pilot episodes before making the pitch.”
He elaborated on how Cartoon Network works within different cultural contexts. For in the Philippines the American cultural context is prevalent. Therefore shows that succeeded in the US generally fare well there as well. Taiwan has the Japanese cultural context. “So you have Japanese anime like the Miyaki series. In Australia we get more bold and mischievous. For the Queen’s birthday we had our characters not wearing pants. In India launching Pogo allowed to work on the live action platform like the movie Harry Potter. The name Cartoon Network implies just cartoons and nothing else.”
Miranda said that Disney has had success working with local producers in Hong Kong on the interstitial video production Legends of the King of Fire. Each interstitial lasted for around five minutes. Channel ratings went up by 67 per cent and it is now being adopted by other markets. Buhaj added that choosing shows was not just a matter of whether it had enough legs. Scheduling becomes important. “We identify hot spots like Diwali and plan around them. Also when the kids have exams we do not plan premieres.”
Publishing firm Mallard Media Services’ Margaret Donald said that channels had a social responsibility towards kids. “I am disturbed that a lot of violence is being fed to kids under the action tag. Simplicity and integrity are key ingredients that go towards making a classic brand. There is a need for more wholesome material. We are looking to partner with Indian production companies.”
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.
