News Broadcasting
Joyce Yeung is BBC Worldwide global TV sales senior VP Asia
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has appointed Joyce Yeung to the newly created role of senior VP for global TV sales in Asia. She joins next year.
Currently Sparrowhawk Media VP sales and business development Asia Pacific, Yeung will lead BBC Worldwide’s content distribution activity across television, DVD and digital platforms, as well as licensing.
The move reflects an increasing focus on the region for BBC Worldwide’s global TV sales division with ambitions to build on its successful programme distribution business and expand on growing digital and local production opportunities.
BBC Worldwide MD global TV sales Steve Macallister said, “Asia is core to our growth plans. With an established team achieving strong distribution sales, we are well placed to take our Global Sales business to a new level of competition and commitment.
“Bringing Joyce into our senior management team and tapping into her formidable strengths in the region are pivotal steps in raising our Asian profile and driving our business forward.”
Yeung says, “It’s very exciting to be joining BBC Worldwide at a time of new expansion in the region. The vast extent of BBC Worldwide’s content is unrivalled, and I am really looking forward to working with the team to steer the business to new levels.”
Yeung will be based in BBC Worldwide’s Hong Kong office but will also oversee the Toyko sales team. She will lead an overall sales force of 24, supported by the Asian management team comprising Katsuhiko Waza in Tokyo, and Pierre Cheung, Linfield Ng, Maggie Wong and Helen Wong in Hong Kong.
Yeung is BBC Worldwide’s second SVP appointment in the region, working alongside senior VP Asia Pacific for Global Channels, Christine Leo-McKerrow.
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.
