News Broadcasting
BBC revenue growth in 2002 ‘significant’
NEW DELHI: Continuing to be bullish on the Indian market, BBC World feels that the subcontinent still offers the channel great potential in terms of revenue and audience, according to a senior executive of the channel.
“Revenue has grown significantly in the (calendar) year 2002 globally. Within India, the growth has been significant and it is more significant now,” Jonathan Howlett, director of airtime sales, BBC World, told indiantelevision.com today in an interview.
Howlett also said that as part of a strategy to increase audience share which will result into increased advertising revenue, BBC World is also tapping directly “tertiary and secondary markets” like Germany, the Philippines, Indonesia as also parts of Eastern Europe.
According to Howlett, India becomes more significant as a market for BBC World (India is the only market in the world where BBC is ahead of its main competitor CNN) as there is a new interest amongst advertisers and media planners for news channels as a vehicle for carrying messages.
“I see that the mental block which probably was there earlier amongst advertisers that BBC World is a niche channel and that too a global news channel is going away,” Howlett said, adding, “I also see that there is a new interest for news channels (as a vehicle) in India and it is in my interest that I closely follow what is happening in the market and what the other (news) channels are doing.”
A person who has come to India quite often, Howlett has sniffed out that not only is the Delhi air more clean (than when he was last here) now, but there are business opportunities in India which need to be exploited to offset some less robust markets elsewhere in the world.
“There is greater connectivity between India and the rest of the world today and vice versa,” Howlett said, pointing out that the channel is getting more queries (on advertising) from companies in the US, for example, for advertising in India.
“I’d say that the Indian market is more robust than several other markets and that is why we feel there are opportunities here,” he said.
Howlett feels that since BBC World is targeting the “upscale” audience in mostly SEC A and B categories, in a way even National Geographic is a competition (for BBC) in India.
According to him, the need of the hour is to focus on existing properties on the channel (like Top Gear, Asia Business News in the morning and Mastermind India) and “crystallise” them rather than go about collecting more local content.
“The agenda is to focus on India and exploit the channel as we have it rather than getting more local content or commission Indian TV production houses,” Howlett said.
Does that mean that BBC is actually cutting down or going in for a status quo where its India-specific localisation bid is concerned? Howlett is quick to see the ‘journalistic trap’ and points out: “I am not saying anything of that sort. What I am saying is that we must focus more on the existing product rather than go about trying to change it drastically.”
Though Howlett is absolutely mum on any sort of figures, making a point on relevance of India at present, he said that any given time some 40-odd brands advertise on the channel, out of which about 50-60 per cent would be from India or of those companies who want to target India.
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.
