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Zee moves SC, Prasar Bharati also to file suit for telecast rights
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket rights imbroglio is fast entering the realm of the theatre of the absurd. Even as Zee Telefilms this morning filed an application before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Indian cricket board not to give television coverage rights to Sony TV and Ten Sports, pubcaster Prasar Bharati declared that it would be filing its own writ as an “aggrieved party”.
Zee has submitted that it be should given the telecast rights for the India-Australia Test cricket series starting from 6 October. The court has fixed Tuesday for hearing of the application.
Speaking to indiantelevision com today, Zee Telefilms additional vice-chairman Jawahar Goel said, “We certainly have a strategy and seeking legal recourse is one of them. But let me tell you, millions of fans of cricket in India may miss out on cricket because of some people’s mis-doings.”
Goel reiterated that as the declared highest bidder, Zee Telefilms would not give up easily on something that it thinks is “rightfully” its. “We are sure the court would finally see our point of view too,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prasar Bharati, the third highest bidder for the cricket rights after Zee and ESPN Star Sports at $ 150 million, stated it would be filing its submission before the apex court.
Confirming the move to indiantelevision.com, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma said the decision to approach the courts had come in the wake of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) announcement yesterday that the board would arrange for the live telecast of the India-Australia series beginning on 6 October through Sony Television Entertainment India.
Sarma said, “As the third highest bidder, we feel we should be rightfully offered the rights for cricket at the price we had bid for. BCCI’s current intentions make us an aggrieved party and we’d move the court next working day (Monday, 4 October).”
As per the BCCI plan, the live feeds would be produced by the Dubai-based Ten Sports network to be shown on a Sony channel.
As the cricket rights saga was unfolding and getting into a legal logjam with parties moving the court, BCCI did try to sell the rights to Prasar Bharati to be shown on Doordarshan, but was rebuffed as the asking price was “high”.
According to Prasar Bharati sources, BCCI had conveyed to DD that even if it offers a dollar more than $ 308 (Zee’s quote), the telecast rights were for the taking.”But when we had bid almost half the amount that, taking into account all aspects, we could not have paid up more on the second invitation,” a source privy to the confabulations between BCCI and DD 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.
