iWorld
Comedy Central reaches two million fans on Facebook
MUMBAI: It has been two years since Comedy Central launched in India. The channel dedicated to comedy has surely made its inroads into its audience’s heart. The proof is the two million fans on Facebook in just two years.
In a time wherein social media platforms make or break a brand’s market presence, Comedy Central has used them effectively to engage audiences and maintain a presence in their lives even when the television is off.
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Growth chart of Comedy Central India Facebook page
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Commenting on the achievement, Viacom18 sr VP and head English entertainment Ferzad Palia said, “Our Facebook page is the epicentre of all our social activity online. We are delighted to reach this milestone especially considering we went from one to two million in a matter of only eight months! This is symbolic of our fans loyalty. We will continue to strive to provide the best of comedy entertainment both on & off air”
One of the engagements that had outstanding results was Suits Season 2 FB App: Are You a Real Suitor? The objective was to capitalise on the show’s wide appeal and provide a refresher to audiences before the second season. Over 10,000 participants signed up to test their “Suits Quotient” giving the page 60,000 page views and 40,160 unique views. Social media conversations around the show increased by 200 per cent generating over 200,000 impressions and the show hashtag #SuitsS2onCC trended in India.
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“A big thank you to all our fans for helping us reach this mark. It truly feels wonderful to see this FB page reach this milestone. This only goes to prove their loyalty. CC India re-affirms the endeavour to provide its fans with cult entertainment,” added Viacom18 digital media VP and business head Rajneel Kumar.
Comedy Central India since its inception prides itself of having the right mix for the diverse audience it caters to. The channel’s reach has grown five times in the past one year. Smaller cities have shown a steady growth in contribution while the channel maintains number one position in the metros.
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.
