News Broadcasting
Radio losses drag down TV Today net
MUMBAI: TV Today Network has seen an 8.69 per cent dip in its net profit for FY10. The company posted a net profit of Rs 308.67 million, lower than last fiscal’s Rs 335.5 million.
The income from operations at Rs 2.85 billion is up 13.83 per cent from FY09 when it stood at Rs 2.5 billion.
As far as the expenses for the firm go, its overall expenditure of Rs 2.54 billion is higher than last year’s Rs 2.25 billion, which is in tune for a growing firm. However, while almost all segments of expenditure saw an increase, the advertising, marketing and distribution expenses dropped to Rs 602.9 million this fiscal, as compared to Rs 675.32 million in the previous year. This is in sync with what analysts had predicted would happen post the merger of Radio Today Broadcasting (which runs Meow FM).
The company’s operating profit went up by 25.37 per cent which is a significant jump. The operating profit of Rs 309.24 million in FY10, compared to Rs 246.67 million in FY09, indicates that the normal business activities of the firm are growing.
The other income earned by the firm is marginally down this fiscal at Rs 231.04 million from last year’s Rs 242.08 million. However, one of the key factors that led to a lower net profit this year is the hit that it has taken in its balance sheet on account of higher interest and finance charges courtesy Radio Today’s merger with it. The latter had been making losses and had taken huge loans. At Rs 70.49 million, the interest and finance charges in the TV Today financials were significantly higher than last year’s Rs 1.37 million.
However thanks to the company’s overall growth its EPS on a Rs 5 face value share is only marginally lower. At Rs 5.31 in FY10 on a diluted basis, it compares well to Rs 5.79 in FY09. The company’s management has announced a dividend of 15 per cent for the fiscal.
The income generated by the radio segment was Rs 43.61 million, while TV Broadcast was Rs 2.80 billion. However, while the TV segment made a profit of Rs 578.49 million this year, the radio segment made a loss of Rs 221.26 million and this was a major factor in the overall net profit of the firm being down.
The firm has made an advance of payment of Rs 185 million to Mail Today Newspapers to subscribe to its equity and enter the daily newspaper space. The venture is currently notching up huge losses but the management believes it will end up being a profitable decision.
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.
