News Broadcasting
Humour works for SAB TV, launching six new shows
MUMBAI: The ‘Only Smiles, No tears’ entertainment channel SAB TV is raring to go places. The channel, which has carved a niche for itself with its humour proposition, is launching six more shows this month.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, SAB TV president sales and marketing Kanta Advani said, “There has been a definite increase in viewership since we took on the humor positioning. We consider the age group of 15+ females and 25+ males to be the most important to our channel due to their buying propensity. And frankly, this is the target group that most advertisers chase.”
Elaborating on the kind of ground promotion strategy undertaken to reposition the channel, Advani said, “We took on the ‘Only Smiles, No Tears’ positioning in May this year and did some good publicity in print and outdoor. For this round of new programming initiatives we have again got some great campaigns going in print mainline dailies nationally, outdoor as well as radio i.e. Radio Mirchi in Mumbai and Delhi and Win.”
Owing to the channel’s genre and popularity a whole lot of new advertisers have joined the SAB TV gang in the last six months. They are Sansui, Lexi Pens, Coke, Samsung, ITC, Blowplast, Harry’s collection, Airtel, Hutch, Candico, Relaxo, Gooldlass Nerolac Paints, Shaw Wallace, Vardhaman Spinning, Ayur Herbal, Bajaj Consumer care, Max New York Life to name just a few.
The channel hopes to build on that momentum with the launch of six news shows. The first is a daily chat show that started today (3 November) called Carryy on Shekhar hosted by India’s talk show king Shekhar Suman, which airs daily at 10 pm Monday to Thursday. Claimed to be one of the funniest and savviest shows on television Carryy… is a fusion of Suman’s satirical comments on current events, t?te-?-t?tes with hot celebrities and political debates.
Back by popular demand is the Anupam Kher hosted kids’ show Say Na Something to Anupam Uncle which will air Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 pm. The third show Sab Kuch Ho Sakta Hai is a non stop laugh riot hosted Sajid Khan and Suresh Menon.
The fourth show in the channel’s kitty is a sitcom called Shri Sifarashilal. Starring Deven Bhojani and Bhawana Balsaver (the famous ‘Chachi’ of Dekh Bhai Dekh) among others, the serial portrays a common yet very unique character and his escapades.
Kisi Se Na Kehna is yet another laugh riot which essays an interesting character. Last but not the least is a show called Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai. The show promises to be candid camera at its best. “Each episode will be completely “gag-packed” and its canvas – the entire city of Mumbai,” quips Advani.
Talking about the USP of the channel Advani says, “All the above mentioned shows and some of the ongoing popular ones like Office Office, Yes Boss and Sahib Biwi Ke Ghulam gives the viewer different facets of humor.”
Advani feels that if there can be a news channel, a movie channel, a music channel, why can’t there be a predominantly humour channel which promises laughter and relief all the while to its viewers? Point taken.
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.
