News Broadcasting
TVTN lists on BSE, hits a high of Rs 225 in first min of trading
MUMBAI: The big ticket issue of TV Today that had garnered overwhelming response from retail investors and was over subscribed 35 times listed today on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
TV Today Network (TVTN) chairman Aroon Purie put the proceedings on track with a short inaugural address. The podium was also shared by TVTN executive director and CEO G Krishnan who called Purie the ‘architect’ who built the network ‘brick by brick.’ The BSE executive director and CEO Dr Manoj Vaish welcomed the TV Today debut on the Stock Exchange.
ELAAN-E-DEBUT: TVTN chairman Aroon Purie sounds the gong on Friday, 16 January 2004 to mark TVTN’s debut on the BSE. ED & CEO G Krishnan (right) cheers him on.
Aroon Purie sounded off the gong at 9:55 am to flag off the trading at the BSE. Later, Purie couldn’t keep himself from sounding off the gong a number of times (!) – perhaps he was mentally recording the resonance of the gong to cull it back from memory later.
The TV Today scrip listed on the BSE at Rs 220 at a premium of 132 per cent over its issue price of Rs 95, the scrip hit a high of Rs 225 within the first one minute of commencing trade. However, the stock toned down to Rs 179 in a depressed market before recovering in later trades to close its first session on D Street at Rs 181.35. The scrip generated high interest amongst investors with over 64.61 lakh TVTN shares changing hands on the BSE alone.
On the NSE, the stock listed at Rs 190 paced up to touch a high of Rs 310 but pared down to close at Rs 182.70. A massive 1.12 crore shares were traded on the NSE.
This, however, does not come as a surprise for a big ticket issue like TV Today. The scrip had been expected to start off well given the strong fundamentals of the group and the popularity of the flagship television news channel Aaj Tak.
Apart from Purie and Krishnan, present in good numbers at the listing ceremony were reporters and presenters of Aaj Tak and top brass suits from the Network’s management including India Today director Anil Mehra. Basking in the glory of the moment were also seen senior officials of lead managers to the issue – JM Morgan Stanley and the co-lead managers Kotak Securities and ICICI Securities Ltd.
Replying to whether he was thinking of going the IPO way for Thomson Press as well – the India Today publishing company owned by him, Purie said there were no such plans in the pipeline at present. He confirmed that the funds raised through the maiden issue would be channeled into the existing network while he had no plans of diversifying into other television channels or entertainment properties.
The listing of the TV Today scrip kickstarts a new phase for the media sector as a number of major television players are expected to follow suit. The big daddies of television that are considering a foray into the capital markets this year include NDTV that according to market sources has a Rs 6000 million issue up its sleeve, B4U with a planned issue of Rs 1000 million, Sony Entertainment and possibly Star India as well. Others to walk that way are expected to be Nimbus Communications and Big B’s AB Corp.
So far, Zee has been the front runner in the media sector, being the only media scrip to figure in the benchmark 30-scrip BSE Sensex.
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.
