News Broadcasting
Network18’s consolidated revenue grew 12 per cent YoY to Rs 1,549 cr for Q2FY23
Mumbai: On Tuesday, Network18 Media & Investments announced its financial results for the quarter that ended 30 September, 2022. Amidst a challenging macro environment, the company reported that its consolidated revenue from operations rose to Rs 1,549 crore (year-on-year) as against Rs 1,387 crore in the corresponding quarter of the preceding fiscal. They have reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 28.84 crore.
Total expenses were at Rs 1,592 crore, up by 33.88 per cent in Q2FY23, as against Rs 1,189.04 crore earlier. The network’s consolidated operating Ebitda fell 87 per cent year on year to Rs 32 crore in Q2FY23, from Rs 253 crore in Q2FY22.
According to a regulatory filing, TV news revenue was down three per cent YoY in the second quarter, owing primarily to a decline in advertising revenue. News ad inventory declined by 10 per cent at industry level and the drop was even higher for the network as they continued to optimise inventory on key channels. However, the impact on revenue was much lower as the scale-up of events-led monetisation partially offset the loss of display advertising.
TV18’s entertainment portfolio had a viewership share of 9.9 per cent in the non-news genre in Q2FY23. Its full-portfolio offering across national, regional, niche, sports, infotainment, and digital has diversified revenue streams and makes it future-ready.
Network18 continued to invest in content, marketing, and distribution initiatives in order to lay a solid foundation for long-term growth, resulting in a 34% increase in operating costs.
Growth in revenue was primarily driven by the movie segment, as ad revenue was flat due to the subdued advertising environment. Adjusting for the impact of the withdrawal of Colors Rishtey from DD FreeDish, ad revenue grew in the high single digits on a YoY basis, despite the challenging environment.
Operating expenses increased by 15 per cent (excluding film production) due to increased content and marketing spending. The higher number of hours (TV and digital), higher episodic costs, and increased spending in regional markets all contributed to the increase in content costs.
The business’s profitability suffered as advertising revenue fell short of expectations, despite content investments helping us strengthen our ratings in certain markets.
In addition, increased investments in digital and a drop in Colors Rishtey ad revenue also impacted Ebitda.
Viacom18 Studio’s Laal Singh Chaddha and Shabaash Mithu received a mixed response from Indian theatre-going audiences but received great traction in international markets and on digital platforms.
Key highlights:
TV18’s CNN News18 and News18 India join CNBC TV18 as undisputed leaders in the English and Hindi markets, respectively.
News18 Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal is the first channel launched by a major news network to cover the region.
Colors fortifies the number two position in the Hindi GEC segment.
Viacom18’s proposed transaction with Bodhi Tree and Reliance got CCI approval.
Network18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai said, “The first half of the fiscal has been challenging for most sectors. However, we believe that this phase should only be a minor bump in the long runway for growth. Our presence across the full spectrum of content segments and platforms places us in a unique position to leverage the combined strengths of our assets. We have set clear objectives for our different business segments and are working on executing our plans in that direction. Despite the macro environment being less than ideal for growth currently, we continue to make investments which will help us create a strong foundation for the long term and will hold us in good stead as growth returns.”
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.
