News Broadcasting
Internet TV ‘Speaking Channel’ debuts in the US
MUMBAI: The US-based TVWorldwide.com, in cooperation with Media Training Worldwide, has announced the details for the formal launch of The Speaking Channel, www.speakingchannel.tv, an internet TV channel featuring live and on-demand content for people who want to learn from great speakers and improve on their own speaking skills.
The companies stated the channel would feature a free video webcast during today’s launch party, live from The Speaking Channel studios near Times Square in New York City, beginning at 6:30 pm, ET. The Speaking Channel was soft-launched during TV Worldwide’s webcast of Streaming Media East in New York City, on the 23 and 24 May.
Since that time, this internet TV channel has leveraged compelling new content to attract strong audience participation from those interested in honing their presentation skills, whether they are speaking to large or small audiences, the news media or in civic or social arenas, states an official release.
The channel features content that addresses speaking excellence to build individual presentation skills in the following areas. 1. Business (large and small group presentations). 2. Public life (civic affairs and politics). 3. Work life (employee communication/job interviews). 4. Family/social communication (parties/networking events). The Channel will continue to feature television programming that celebrates outstanding spoken communication and gives viewers learning tools on how to build and improve their own speaking skills, the release adds.
“This Internet TV Channel has attracted healthy audiences since we soft-launched it in May and we’re excited about the prospects of working with Media Training Worldwide on The Speaking Channel as we launch with the webcast from the Channel’s Times Square Studios,” states TVWorldwide.com CEO Dave Gardy. “By creating and deploying global/local, ‘lean-in’ interactive content for speaking enthusiasts as we’ve done for our other Internet TV channels, we believe we can effectively present a whole new forum for the community of those interested in speaking excellence and improvement. Most important, we know The Speaking Channel will offer our industry partners a unique innovative avenue for communicating with their target demographic audiences through viral on-line distribution as we build the channel’s community.”
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.
