News Broadcasting
NDTV reports lower operating loss for fiscal 2018
BENGALURU: The Prannoy and Radhika Roy-led New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) reported lower consolidated operating loss for the year ended 31 March 2018 (FY 2018, year under review) as compared to the corresponding periods of the previous fiscal. The company has brought down its expenses during the year under review across major parameters such as employee costs, production expenses and cost of services, operating and administration expenses, marketing promotion and distribution expenses as compared to the previous year.
NDTV reported 12.4 per cent decline in consolidated operating revenue for FY 2018 at Rs 429.01 crore as compared to Rs 489.99 crore in FY 2017. Consolidated total revenue declined 12.3 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 439.71 crore from Rs 501.45 crore in the previous year. Consolidated operating loss (EBITDA) in FY 2018 at Rs 35.97 crore was lower than the consolidated operating loss of Rs 42.32 crore in fiscal 2017. Total comprehensive loss (TCL) for the fiscal under review was slightly lower at Rs 84.35 crore as compared to Rs 86.18 crore in FY 2017.
The company suffered a consolidated operating loss for the fourth quarter ended 31 March 2018 at Rs 9.45 crore as compared to a consolidated operating profit of Rs 16.63 crore (11.4 per cent of operating revenue) in the corresponding year ago quarter Q4 2018. NDTV reported consolidated TCL of Rs 20.40 crore during the quarter under review as compared to a consolidated total comprehensive income of Rs 7.14 crore in Q4 2017.Consolidated operating revenue in Q4 2018 fell 25.7 per cent yoy to Rs 108.40 crore as compared to Rs 145.92 crore in Q4 2017.
Let us look at the other consolidated numbers reported by NDTV
Total expense in FY 2018 reduced 12.5 per cent to Rs 501.06 crore from Rs 572.55 crore in the previous year. Production expenses and cost of services reduced 23.3 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 83.64 crore from Rs 109.05 crore in FY 2017. Employee benefit expense during the year under review reduced 9.5 per cent in fiscal 2018 to Rs 212.59 crore from Rs 234.90 crore in the previous year. Operation and administration expense reduced 7.5 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 106.61 crore from Rs 115.30 crore in FY 2017. Marketing, promotion and distribution expense during the year under review reduced 14.9 per cent to Rs 62.14 crore from Rs 72.06 crore in FY 2017.
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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.
