News Broadcasting
Peter Jackson of AsiaSat wins Casbaa chairman’s award
MUMBAI: AsiaSat satellite system operator CEO Peter Jackson has been awarded with the Casbaa chairman’s award 2006 for outstanding contribution to the Asia Pacific multi-channel cable, satellite and broadband pay-TV industries in the previous 12 months.
Jackson has been a member of Casbaa for almost all of the association’s 15 year history and a member of the board of directors for seven years.
The Casbaa chairman’s award 2006 was presented at the conclusion of the Casbaa TV advertising awards held on the final day of the Casbaa Convention 2006 in Hong Kong.
Casbaa chairman Marcel Fenez said, “With his pan-regional responsibilities and a background in telecommunications, Peter has developed an almost unique understanding of media and telecoms issues which has hugely benefited our industry and the association.”
The formal citation for Jackson’s award reads, “In recognition of Peter Jackson’s unparalleled professionalism and integrity in one of the most competitive sectors within our industry and his ongoing commitment to the association.”
“Beyond that, Peter’s contribution’s to the association as a board member and the leading representative of the satellite sector has helped enormously to create the credible industry voice that we are today,” added Fenez.
Jackson said, “I am honoured to receive this award. But the honour is as much for the team at AsiaSat as it is for me. I also think the award is an endorsement of the general achievements of Casbaa itself in the years that I have been involved. “
Prior to joining the listed AsiaSat as CEO in 1993, Jackson was the regional director, Asia Pacific of cable & wireless, which he joined in 1970 with responsibilities for several satellite telecom ventures around the region. He has also worked in the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates and China.
The other nominees for the 2006 Casbaa chairman’s award were:
HBO
For the launch (and marketing) of the new HBO multiplexes which maintain programming quality whilst adding to customer choice and ease of proposition understanding.
Nokia
For the promotion of the DVB-supported DVB-H standard and its efforts to generate a greater understating of the mobile TV opportunity to both mobile platform operators and content providers.
PCCW – NOW TV
For the continued expansion of its subscriber base and the proactive marketing of a secure and advanced pay-TV platform with a growing interactive capability.
Star TV
For establishing a broad range of tailored channels, to cater to specific needs (such as South India programming). The network has also demonstrated a deep understanding of the industry’s future, both on-air and into platforms such as mobile. And STAR TV has been a leader in branded content.
Starhub
For aggressively expanded its channel line-up and invested in enhancing and marketing its services. The total number of channels has increased to 94. Starhub recently introduced a digital video recorder set-top box; launched pay per view service, FlexiWatch – engaged in an HD trial; and, launched a new brand campaign ‘For the life that I love, I am a hub’ to drive subscription.
Marketing Magazine (Singapore)
In recognition of its excellent work in promoting the delivery of key demographics by cable and satellite channels to advertisers.
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.
