News Broadcasting
TV5 to spawn business news channel TV5 Money
MUMBAI: Telugu news channel TV5, promoted by Shreya Broadcasting, has around 290 reporters covering the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,and delivering hourly news bulletins and 30 special bulletins. It has, however, gained a reputation for its incisive business reportage and programming.
Now the management led by MD B Ravindranath is spawning a digital baby exploiting TV5’s business specialisation USP. Called TV5 Money, it will make its debut as a channel on Youtube, as an app, a website and on IPTV platforms on 3 August and it will be focused on business and lifestyle news.
The new service is being steered by TV5 business head Vasanth Kumar and a separate editorial team – from that employed by the mother news channel – has been put in place. TV5 Money will deliver real time financial market coverage, business news, commodities trends and life style content, says Kumar. The management claims that it will provide unbiased, in-depth investment analysis and assist investors on mutual funds, insurance products, derivatives and commodities trading.
The test signal was started in an informal programme on 29 July by Ravindranath.
Kumar points out that it was the success of TV5’s business news programming voices that encouraged the company to consider launching a separate business news channel. But the management decided to take dainty steps initially in the digital domain. He, however, is sanguine that channel’s market research expertise will make viewers’ journey into the complex financial markets easy.
Ravindranath too is confident that TV5 Money will gain traction quickly with viewers. “TV5 commenced operations in 2007,” he says. “But it very quickly positioned itself on top of the ladder in the regional broadcast news industry. It is known for its unique regional content, unbiased attitude and exceptional coverage of state, national and international news, making it Telangana and Andhra’s leading Telugu news and current affairs channel.”
Shreya Broadcasting chairman BR Naidu believes that its track record and team which will stream out non-stop coverage are sure to contribute significantly to the overall rise of regional broadcast news. “Telugu viewers from the smallest part of India nationally will be attracted to it,” he says.
A view that is echoed by a media analyst. Says she: “First of all Andhra and Telangana are very broadband friendly thanks to the strong IT focus the government has set out. Because of this, it should find a online audiences tuning in, especially in offices where broadband pipes are pretty thick. Then, the Telugu speaking populace is very industrious and they have seen an upgradation of their lifestyles over the years as the economy there has progressed. They want to know where to invest their money, and TV5 Money could help give them perspectives and opinions. By launching as a live streaming service, the company is cutting short its time to market and also keeping distribution and other costs low. But it will have to give it an extensive social media and digital marketing push to capture eyeballs quickly.”
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.
