News Broadcasting
Subscription revenues to be linked to content post-CAS – SSB
MUMBAI: Solomon Smith Barney (SSB) claims that the subscription revenues will eventually be linked to the content quality and the viewership. This will reiterate the fact that “Content is King!” and augur well for the production houses. The report also states that the pricing and the composition of the basic tier could affect the subscription revenues of the networks.
SSB’s report entitled CAS is a reality but let’s await implementation, raises the issue of a future scenario wherein the genres of channels might have to follow their respective leaders, especially if the leaders belong to influential and dominant groups.
For example, if Star Plus were to decide to convert to free to air and be a part of the basic tier, the demand for other Hindi general entertainment channels (Zee and Sony) would suffer. There could also be alternative strategies such as launching two variants – for instance, a free to air Zee TV and a pay Zee TV Premium (with premium content transferred to the same) – could also come into play to manage the transition.
The report claims that the regime of individual pricing for channels, instead of a bouquet pricing strategy, will be based on the pricing for the basic tier of services. However, in all likelihood, the pay-TV channels would need to revise their channel rates downward. Pricing power on the subscription rates would also rest with the numero uno channel in each genre.
Additionally, the report states that a high basic tier price (in excess of Rs 60 per month) could negatively impact the pay-TV broadcasters.
The report also claims that the propensity of the consumer to invest in Set Top Boxes (STBs) would be a key issue. It also states that the entire post-CAS improvement in disclosures through subscriber addressability rests on the take-up of STBs; if the viewers do not aggressively take up STBs, the status quo prevails. Therefore, it is imperative for the banking and finance companies to tie-up with the MSOs or cable operators for attractive funding schemes for the consumers.
The channel reach could decline and advertising revenues could be affected if the transition period for STBs to be installed in metros is less than the estimated six to eight month period. Audit and compliance procedures will have to be implemented to ensure that the law achieves its goal of increased declarations and reduced piracy.
Piracy is a reality of conditional access in every country – developed or underdeveloped. Piracy problems are common to most pay-TV operators across the globe and the estimates of piracy for the Indian markets, while important for earnings estimation, will be a major issue, the report says.
It states that the 40 million Cable and Satellite households (C&S), paying an average of Rs150 per subscriber, could generate annual revenues of around Rs 72 billion. Currently, broadcasters such as Star and Zee have priced their channels on the basis of bouquets. Their subscription revenues are hence a function of the declaration from cable operators and their bouquet price.
For the future financial modeling, the subscriber base will need to be divided into three tiers:
a) metro subscribers (approximately 7 million) who are covered in the first phase of CAS and install STBs – approx 20 per cent or 1.5 million – Payouts from them will be based on the basic tier pricing and their choice of FTA (free-to-air) channels.
b) FTA subscribers in the metros which do not install STBs/get pirated signals – payouts from them will be only the basic tier pricing – cable operators will continue to charge the same rates and pocket the difference.
c) Rest of the country – status quo – Bouquet based pricing regimes will continue and subscription revenues will be a function of negotiation between broadcasters and cable operators until Phase II of implementation of CAS across the country is notified.
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.
