News Broadcasting
Leave CAS, pricing to market forces, Guthrie urges
MUMBAI: Content, scale and customer service and marketing were the three key areas Star TV CEO Michelle Guthrie identified as the driving forces for the development of pay TV markets in her address at the plenary session of Frames 2004.
Referring specifically to India and the current regulatory debates going on, she stressed on three points. It would be incorrect on the part of the government to try and mandate the introduction of addressability or CAS. On the related issues of pricing as well as packaging of channels in bouquets or tiers, she said the norm globally was that these were driven by market forces and not mandated.
Packaging of channels is the norm globally and should be allowed because it allows providers to package the products they have to suit market and customer requirements, she said.
We really believe in this market and to help expand the pie, all players should work together, she added.
As a climax to the three-day convention- Creating opportunities: Vision 2020- Future Perfect?, the plenary session had Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore assistant director Kimberley Foo talking about digital asset revolution. We, at Singapore, have a similar problem like yours. We have massive information, which is yet not organised, she said. In a bid to showcase IDAs digital capabilities, Foo spoke on how India could benefit from a collaborative deal with Singapore. With their expertise in digital cinema technology, games technology, video and audio distribution and association with the organization meant better and organised future for the Indian media.
After a technically sound pitch, Guthrie stepped up to offer her take on the pay TV scenario worldwide and especially in India. Comparing the status of Indias pay TV market to the rest of the world, she insisted that pay TV definitely has a future. Continuing the line she had taken at her maiden speech earlier in the day, Guthrie insisted that the despite the initial skirmishes, pay TV has a future. With a promise to cater to quality, interactivity, scale and consumer service, pay TVs value for money proposition would be beneficial not only for the operators but also for the consumer, she said. If you have a price cap, then there is very little initiative, she insisted.
In her speech, she also added that it was rather unwise to fight for a la carte option in pay TV scenario as logistically it was difficult to manage.
On a pointed question from indiantelevision.com that it was the free market which drove the subscriber base to 50 million in this country, and the same dynamics that has led to the conflict among players in the business, what should be role of a regulator, Guthrie would not be drawn on a clear answer except to say that there should be more dialogue between the parties.
Guthrie also sees potential in more niche channels entering India. I dont see a womens channel, health channel, gardening channel so there is certainly space for some more on the horizon, she said.
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.
