News Broadcasting
Games on demand TV network TVHead looks to gain momentum in the US
MUMBAI: Bringing high-quality casual games to broad television audiences, US firm TVHead has announced the details of its premier games-on-demand TV network.
TVHead says that it opens up new revenue streams for American cable and IPTV operators by offering the nation’s first massively deployable games-on-demand network for cable and IPTV. This news is the culmination of 18 months of stealth development.
The TVHead Games-On-Demand Network (TVHead) integrates into existing video on demand (Vod) infrastructure providing a uniform high-quality game experience to 100% of Vod-enabled households. The servicve will target nearly 60 million North American households that spent $11 billion last year to play games on consoles, PCs, the internet and wireless handsets.
TVHead founder, CEO Sangita Verma says, “Casual gaming is a high-growth market that cable and IPTV operators do not adequately address today. TVHead was created to enable cable and IPTV operators to become a major force in the games industry. By offering a rich gaming experience to all of their subscribers today—not just the small percentage with high-end set-top boxes—TVHead allows operators to monetize gamers directly, and keep them in front of their televisions.”
Operators that affiliate with TVHead have a chance to provide on-demand interactive casual games to their entire subscriber base, leveraging their distribution reach to become major participants in the gaming economy adds the firm.
With new and updated games added daily, TVHead showcases a multitude of genres, including puzzle, arcade, card games, word, trivia, sports, and kids games that appeal to everyone in the family. The unrivalled programming lineup features blockbuster brands and classic favorites, including Space Invaders, Bejeweled, Diner Dash, Zuma, Texas Hold’Em, Solitaire, Backgammon, and many more.
TVHead creates a casual gamer community, including high-score leader boards and system-wide multiplayer that allows players to compete with others throughout the country from the comfort of their living rooms. In addition, players may use internet and wireless devices to check their stats, taunt their opponents and compete for high-score bragging rights.
TVHead’s two-tiered business model includes a free ad-supported offering that encourages subscriber loyalty while creating revenue streams from targeted advertising, and a premium games offering for subscribers who desire multiplayer options, advanced community features and special brand-name games. On-screen impulse subscription allows customers to purchase and play the service using their remote controls.
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.
