News Broadcasting
TV18 news biz turns net positive in FY’11
MUMBAI: The news business of Television 18 India (TV18), showing signs of recovery, has turned positive at the net profit level for the fiscal ended 31 March 2011.
The company, which runs the news channels CNBC TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, has posted a standalone net profit of Rs 390 million for the fiscal compared to a net loss of Rs 600 million in the year-ago period.
Revenue from news operations has gone up 12.1 per cent to Rs 3.06 billion, as against Rs 2.73 billion in the previous fiscal. Expenditure at Rs 2.19 billion was marginally down compared to Rs 2.23 billion that the company had incurred in FY’10.
Meanwhile, operating profit rose to Rs 870 million, from Rs 500 million a year ago.
For the three-month period ended 31 March, the company has, however, seen a dip in the net profit. The standalone net profit for the quarter stood at Rs 170 million, down from Rs 240 million it had reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.
Revenue rose 13 per cent to Rs 950 million (from Rs 840 million), while expenses grew marginally to Rs 670 million (from Rs 620 million).
The firm’s operating profit for the quarter was Rs 280 million, up from Rs 220 million in the previous fiscal quarter.
On a consolidated basis, TV18 reduced its full fiscal net loss to Rs 210 million, from a net loss of Rs 1.17 billion in FY’10. The revenue of the company rose to Rs 5.90 billion from Rs 5.53 billion (FY’10), while operating expenses stood stagnant at Rs 5.27 billion.
The consolidated result also includes financials of Web18, Newswire18 and Infomedia18.
Web18:
Web18, which houses the web properties of the group including in.com, Moneycontrol.com and bookmyshow.com, turned profitable on operational level for the full fiscal. It reported an operating profit of Rs 10 million, as against an operating loss of Rs 90 million a year ago.
Revenue generated from operations increased by 16.44 per cent to Rs 850 million, as against Rs 730 million (FY’10). Expenses were at Rs 840 million, up from Rs 820 million.
For the fiscal fourth-quarter, Web18 posted operating profit of Rs 30 million (Rs 20 million in Q4FY10). Revenue stood at Rs 250 million (from Rs 230 million), while expenses were at Rs 220 million (from Rs 200 million).
Newswire18:
Newswire18 also posted operating profit for the full fiscal as well as the fourth-quarter. Revenue stood at Rs 390 million (from Rs 330 million in previous fiscal) while operating profit remained constant at Rs 20 million. For the quarter, revenue and expenses stood at Rs 100 million each.
Infomedia18:
Infomedia18, meanwhile, saw net loss widening to Rs 420 million for the fiscal (from Rs 40 million in FY’10). Revenue fell to Rs 1.60 billion, from Rs 1.74 billion in FY10. Expenses, meanwhile, were at Rs 1.87 million, from Rs 1.91 billion in FY’10.
Operating losses increased to Rs 270 million, from Rs 170 million.
Even in Q4, the company posted net loss of Rs 100 million, as against a net profit of Rs 100 million. Income from operations fell to Rs 480 million, from Rs 760 million. Operating expenses fell to Rs 540 million, from Rs 800 million.
Operating profit, meanwhile, rose to Rs 60 million, from Rs 40 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.
Shares of TV18 closed Monday at Rs 75.25 on the BSE, down 0.99 per cent.
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.
