News Broadcasting
TVU Networks levels up Kumbh Mela coverage with game-changing tech!
MUMBAI: Imagine a sea of 450 million devotees, converging at the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, all seeking spiritual awakening—and now, imagine broadcasting that spectacle live, without a hitch. TVU Networks has done just that.
This year’s Maha Kumbh Mela, held in Prayagraj, India, from 13 January to 26 February 2025, posed an Everest-sized challenge to broadcasters. The sheer scale of the event—hordes of pilgrims, signal-clogging mobile devices, and unpredictable terrain—demanded a broadcasting solution as powerful as the festival itself. TVU Networks delivered, deploying a trifecta of game-changing technologies that ensured seamless live coverage despite massive network congestion and rugged conditions.
Three powerhouse solutions
1. TVU One backpacks – Mobile Mastery TVU’s field teams wielded TVU One backpacks, transforming even the busiest bathing ghats into makeshift studios. Featuring TVU’s patented Inverse StatMux Plus (IS+) transmission technology, HEVC format smart VBR encoding, and Forward Error Correction (FEC), these power-packed units enabled reporters to transmit crystal-clear video—even in the heart of the most crowded ritual sites.
2. TVU MLink transmitters – The Network Workhorses Broadcasting from a moving sea of people? No problem. TVU MLink transmitters, housed in strategically positioned broadcast vehicles, flexed their multi-network muscles, seamlessly aggregating 5G, 4G, Wifi, and ethernet. These high-tech hubs ensured rock-solid signal stability, even when millions of mobile devices strained the airwaves.
3. TVU Rack router 5G – The Ultimate Command Centre Temporary studios at Kumbh Mela ran on TVU Rack Router 5G, a six-network behemoth supporting speeds up to one gbps. By integrating satellite, microwave, Wifi, and ethernet into one rock-solid connection, it provided reliable internet access, keeping production teams fully equipped and on-air.
“We are incredibly proud to provide the technological backbone for broadcasting this historic spiritual gathering,” said TVU Networks general manager for south Asia, Subodh Aggarwal. “Our solutions were specifically designed to tackle the unique challenges of the Kumbh Mela—from massive network congestion to the need for both mobile and fixed broadcasting positions. The successful implementation showcases our commitment to delivering reliable, cutting-edge broadcasting solutions even in the most demanding environments.”
This achievement cements TVU Networks’ position as an industry leader in live broadcasting. The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 was not just a test of faith for the devotees—it was a trial by fire for media technology, and TVU Networks emerged victorious, setting a new gold standard for large-scale event coverage in India and beyond.
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.
