News Broadcasting
Europe’s first HDTV service launches in Jan ’03
PARIS: The trend towards high definition television (HDTV) is growing steadily.
In the US, 2.5 million HD sets will be sold this year according to the American Consumer Electronics Association. Not one to be left behind, Europeans will also experience HDTV from next year.
Europe’s first HDTV channel Euro1080 will commence broadcast from 1 January 2004. It will launch from SES-Astra’s 19.2-degree East orbital position. The European dimension of the station will eliminate all language barriers, with a program consisting of sport, music, shows and cultural venues. Highlights will include the European and the World Soccer Championships, the Olympic Summer, Winter Games. The first programme on the anvil is the New Year’s Concert from Vienna.
The two-channel service is operated by Belgian production company Alfacam. The Main Channel will offer four hours of programmes a day. This will be a mix of live and recorded stuff. It will go to European households and to small venues (sports bars, hotel chains, airports, etc). It will be free-to-air via satellite, with a footprint between Norway, Portugal and Greece, covering over 30 countries.
The second Euro1080 channel, the Event Channel, will be distributed to theatres. Event programmes, either live or delayed live, are sent out to Event Cinemas. These are theatres equipped with electronic projection and 5.1 surround sound systems. The content will range from big events to specific regional programming.
As a result of this hardware, companies will feel the need to innovate and launch their products on the European market. Internationally, the impact of HDTV will also get heavier, since it will be present on all continents except Africa.
The European service will offer more lines, more pixels and more colours. The number 1080 refers to the number of lines on the screen. Standard Definition offers only 625 lines.
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.
