News Broadcasting
CNN-News 18 to telecast engaging stories of ‘aam aadmi’, others
MUMBAI: In a move to stand out in this cluttered Indian news television industry, CNN-News18 is all geared up to launch a new interview show, Off-Centre.
Differentiator: It will not just feature mainstream personalities, but will also feature unconventional people from all walks of life. The channel aims to bring back the art of interviewing with this programme.
Slated to go on air from tomorrow (10 September), the show will air every Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 9:30 pm. The half-hour episode will be telecast every week.
The show is aimed at broadening the viewers’ horizons by bringing forth the pioneering work, unconventional and inspiring ideas of the multifaceted personalities that appear on the show.
The channel hopes to reach thoughtful viewers looking for meaningful, rich ideas on the human experience. It is aimed at people who seek food for thought while relaxing at home on weekends, at people who appreciate design aesthetics.
The first episode will kick-start with the host Anuradha Sengupta interviewing the Iron Lady a.k.a Irom Chanu Sharmila. The first episode in Imphal has been shot with HD cameras in locations that are germane to the guest. The show will have a strong graphic and visual design to stand out from the crowd that telecasts news and views only.
“The idea is to visually depict the closeness that is generated during a conversation. In 17 years of my career, everyone used to compliment me on my conversational skills. We brainstormed for quite some time before launching. Through this show, the viewers will see me having a close and private conversation with a guest every week. We will talk to people who do not give us breaking news, who are less or not at all featured in news. Compelling and fascinating stories on their work, life experiences, etc will be highlighted in the show which the viewers will enjoy,” says CNN News18 consulting editor Sengupta.
Through candid one-on-one conversations, the veteran journalist will interview guests with a high degree of individuality, offering to viewers an inside view of the guest’s life through interesting anecdotes, and much more. The show will use a narrative style of interview with a casual ambience in contextual locations to create memorable dialogue with guests from the world of entertainment, politics, books, government, sports and beyond.
“Guests will be people who have compelling stories to narrate. It’s not necessarily the aam aadmi and it’s not necessarily the celebrity. But yes, I may be partial to people who are overlooked during the mainstream news programmes. You will be quite surprised by who you will meet here,” adds Sengupta.
It was clear from their research that news channels in the compulsion to seek headlines and breaking news are missing out on thoughtful programming with depth. “Off Centre” is one of the new shows on the weekend that aims to fill this vacuum.
Says Sengupta, “We launched Virtuosity, stories from the news anchored by Vir Sanghvi, etc. This is the next programme on the slate. More stuff is lined up.”
She is of the opinion that news TV as a category seems to be losing the interest of the viewers. The power of the medium is undeniable time for the channel to reclaim its rightful place as storytellers and is committed to that.
“It’s imperative to experiment, innovate and find new ways to engage with them,” she further adds.
The show will be effectively utilized and leveraged on their network which will help establish the show. Additionally, the show will be promoted with the use of an effective mix of print, OOH and other media to maximize the reach.
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.
