News Broadcasting
Mirror Now aims to be no. 2 Eng news channel in 2018: Faye D’Souza
MUMBAI: Within a year of its launch, Times Television Network’s news channel Mirror Now has achieved phenomenal publicity. Not only has rapid digitisation and its focus on socio-economic issues spurted the channel’s ratings and impact on viewers but also the impressive aura of its executive editor and primetime anchor Faye D’Souza championing the cause of women in media.
The channel launched on 23 March 2017 replacing Magicbricks Now, the network’s partnership with real estate company Magicbricks, which focussed on the country’s realty business. On the other hand, Mirror Now highlights issues that impact people’s daily lives covering issues such as crime, women’s safety, traffic woes, cleanliness, health, environment, power and water to make India a better place to live.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Faye D’Souza says, “The trend which we started and other channels are now following is to bring up the real issue. It was an idea for a channel that the management and we believed in. The kind of response we got from the viewers is very heartening.”
The channel is getting more traction from primary urban centres like Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata. “The traction is not only in the form of ratings but also as feedback through emails and social media platforms which we receive,” D’Souza adds.
In the month of July last year, the strongest markets mentioned by D’Souza were Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Its plan last year was to engage viewers of 34-36 cities with a million plus population in India. “Our aim is to be number two in English news channel genre by the end of 2018. We take a lot of feedback from our viewers. We don’t want to compete with other English news channels because if we compete we will be forced to cover news the way they do” she says.
The channel’s aim is to increase news coverage in more cities. “For Mirror Now 2018 would be to constantly think of fresh ways to approach the news by putting up lot more programming and launching more shows after we had a slight setback because of the Kamala Mills fire,” D’Souza says.
The blaze that erupted in the Kamala Mills compound in Mumbai on 28 December impacted the operations of Times TV Network which has its headquarters and operations there. Right now, Mirror Now is using the Times Now and ET Now offices to function. D’Souza says that it will be a month before the channel can resume operations in its own office.
Also Reads:
Times Television Network’s operations affected by Kamala Mills compound fire
Mirror Now & govt working together on public issues without yelling, says Faye D’souza
Mirrow Now aims to engage viewers in 34-36 urban cities
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.
