News Broadcasting
ESS creates music video to give PHL a push
MUMBAI: Music is the message for ESPN Star Sports (ESS) as regards creating awareness around its upcoming Premier Hockey League (PHL) initiative that kicks off on 13 January is concerned. Ek naya junoon! That is the title of the music anthem that ESS has created. The broadcaster had roped in A-list playback singer Sonu Nigam and music director Sandesh Shandilyato create the anthem for the event.
Sonu Nigam and music director Sandesh Shandilya
Speaking on the initiative ESS assistant marketing director Paras Sharma said, Hockey requires a punch to take it from its current status. Music is an ideal platform to re ignite the passion people have for the game. A music video will be crated from the anthem which will start airing on our channels and also on music channels. The song is about a renewal of spirit and passion, which is what ESS is aiming to do with PHL.
The music video is an attempt on our part to get hockey back into the reckoning. To create awareness about the PHL brand we are using our brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar. He can be seen in promotional spots talking up PHL. These spots are airing during Indias match against Bangladesh. When the games kick off we are looking at roping in film stars to support the players
Sharma added that as the kick off date approaches the broadcaster will use print and radio in a big way in order to familiarise people with the teams and the different players. Online it will create a microsite where fans can get information of the teams as well as the playing schedule. There will also be road shows in the different cities whose teams are participating.
Team captains will visit important hangouts and locations. The aim is to create excitement among the locals that their team is participating and to enable them to rally around their team. He also dismissed the idea that the mediocre performance of the Indian national hockey team at the recently concluded Champions Trophy in Pakistan could dampen enthusiasm about the game. As far as sponsorship is concerned Sharma said that deals were in the process of being worked out.
Speaking about his involvement Nigam said, It feels great to be a part of the revival of hockey. Unfortunately Indians have lost interest in the game as cricket is seen as being more glamorous. The media is also to blame. All they want to do is promote cricketers and actors. In fact our music industry is also suffering as a result.
Why cant our media promote Dhanraj Pillay and music directors? What have we done for hockey and the players in the last 20 years? If we are unwilling to do anything to uplift the game then we should stop calling it our national sport. The PHL initiative is a laudable step by ESS and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to bring back glory to the game. The anthem has been done with a great deal of enthusiasm and I am sure that it will inspire the players to give their best effort. Personally speaking I would like to see The Maratha Warriors do really well. Mumbai has produced some great sporting icons in the past like Prakash Padukone and the PHL could well be the avenue for more.
As had been reported earlier by indiantelevision.com Each game will have four quarters of 17 minutes and 30 second each, instead of the two halves. New concepts of time-outs have also been introduced in order to liven up the game. The winner within the stipulated time will get three points for each victory while the team winning in the extra time will share the points 2:1. The games will be played under floodlights.
The league will have two tiers having five teams each in the first year. Tier I will be called the Premier Division and Tier II will be called the First Division. The League will follow a round robin format with all teams playing each other twice. The winner will be decided on the basis of total points. What is interesting is that the team names were decided by a survey of people living in that particular city. For instance Hyderbad Sultans was chosen as Hyderbadis are associated with royalty and tradition which goes hand in hand with modernity. Bangalore High Fliers was chosen as residents of the Garden City consider themselves to be trendsetters, fore runners and leaders.
Buoyed by the success that its dual feed in English and Hindi for cricket received in the past ESS will also do the same for PHL. The television producers it has roped in have experience in producing hockey at the Olympics and Commonwealth games. One of the good things about PHL is the fact that players from Spain, Pakistan among other countries will also be participating. That will give the Indians valuable exposure. Right now discussions are going on with the various international hockey federations.
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.
