News Broadcasting
ESS threatens to switch-off InCable following expiry of deal
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: It was too good to last. The “truce” reached last month (14 December) between sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports and Hinduja group MSO InCableNet looks all set to unravel in Mumbai and possibly in other centres as well.
And for the avid cricket lover, the timing couldn’t have been worse. The Indian cricket team’s magnificent performance in the ongoing test series with Australia would only have vetted the viewers’ appetites for the one-day spectacle that is to follow.
For the record, ESS shot off a missive to InCableNet yesterday, asserting that the agreement that was in place had become invalid as off 31 December. The letter set a deadline of 5 pm today for InCableNet to revert on the matter. The letter holds out the threat that if the MSO failed to respond, ESS would be free “to take all necessary and relevant steps” (read shut-off).
InCableNet on its part sent off a reply asserting that since a meeting to discuss this very matter had already been scheduled for the 5th in Mumbai, it did not understand the purpose of the letter issued by ESS. InCableNet has further stated that as per the understanding reached between the two parties on 14 December, disconnection requires seven days prior intimation.
InCableNet also covered old ground in its response regarding the difficulties it was facing in raising monies from the ground:
*The MSO’s declared base to ESS in Mumbai exceeds its paid connectivity.
*Consumer resistance to increasing pay TV rates continues to be a strong disincentive to increasing rates.
*ESS’ “best rates and favourable terms” imply an increase of monthly pay outs by 36 to 40 per cent and with substantial upfront payments
Sricharan Iyengar, V-P affiliate sales ESPN Software had this to say about the looming face-off: “If the Hindujas don’t come back to us within the given deadline, then we would have no option but to switch them off.” He however clarified that at the moment both the parties were talking about the Mumbai market only, adding, “If the Hindujas don’t want to renegotiate for Mumbai, then we’d presume they won’t like to do for other markets too. The onus is on them.”
According to Iyengar, “The problem here is that the Hindujas are insisting on paying us according to the old rates that were signed two years back. Things have changed since 2001 and we would like to renegotiate, which they are not willing to do.”
“We had given them very attractive offers, including a variety of tariff plans, but they are not willing to negotiate. This stance is certainly not acceptable to us. They have come back to us on certain things, but they are actually non-proposals and bizarre.”
Iyengar further stated, “It is strange that the Hindujas neither want to accept the increased subscription rates (Rs 39.70), nor do they want to go in for an increase in the declared subscriber base. Their plea is that the company cannot pay anything more as they themselves get paid a certain amount. If the Hindujas want to give the ESS feed free to their distributors, it’s their problem, not ours. Why should we sacrifice our revenues for such subsidisation?”
Looks like the first major face-off of the year between the cable fraternity and the pay broadcasters will be played out between “regular antagonists” ESS and InCableNet. And with the other pay broadcasters expected to make their own announcements of subscription rate hikes, expect more such face-offs to surface in the near future.
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.
