News Broadcasting
Indo-Pak series ODI opener gets Ten Sports the ratings
MUMBAI: The first ratings numbers for the ongoing Indo-Pakistan cricket carnival are in, and maybe not so surprisingly, they are certainly not looking bad for broadcast rights holder Ten Sports.
The latest Tam ratings show that the Bukhatir broadcaster’s coverage of the first one day international between India and Pakistan on 13 March got it higher ratings than DD among cable and satellite homes.
That would in itself be hardly surprising in normal circumstances but in the light of the cable blackout that the channel is confronting in certain parts of the country (Mumbai in particular), the strong ratings showing points to one thing.
Sure, Ten was hit in Mumbai thanks to Coda (Cable Operators and Distributors Association), Pune, parts of Delhi, etc and in areas where the Star-India backed Hathway Cable and Datacom has a strong presence. However the rest of the country got the channel which ensured that distribution was not impacted as severely as has has been perceived by the media. Even RPG in Kolkata which distributes Star and Sony signed a carriage agreement with Ten.
In fact, among the big MSOs, it is only Hathway that has not reached agreement with Ten Sports. Even Hinduja Group cable arm InCableNet has reached an understanding with Ten Sports, RK Singh, advisor to Ten Sports distributor Modi Entertainment Network, told indiantelevision.com.
A look at the ratings data is revealing. For C&S, 4+, all homes, Ten’s broadcast of the evening session of the day/night game from 2:10 pm – 6:23 pm got a TVR of 8.5 putting it in the 14th position. The morning broadcast too did well at number 17 with a TVR of 7.8. This is staggering when you consider that the broadcast is for a ten hour period. The data is for the week 7-13 March.
And what of national broadcaster Doordarshan, which was using Ten’s feed? DD comes in at number 24 with a TVR of 6.4 for the evening telecast. The morning broadcast got it a TVR of 6.3.
Meanwhile, even Ten’s post-match studio show Straight Drive was did well coming in at number 39 with a TVR of 4.5. The pre-match episode of Straight Drive had a 2.8 TVR putting it at Number 73. DD’s post match show Fourth Umpire was at 92 with 2.6 TVRs.
In the end it looks like all the talk about Ten Sports being blacked out throughout the country due to the failure to successfully negotiate with the cable operators was a tad exaggerated. The immediate question of course is what spot on the ratings chart would Ten have got if there had not been a blackout, Number 1?
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.
