News Broadcasting
Zee Media acquires 80% stake in India Today’s entities; to launch shopping channel
MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) has acquired up to 80 per cent equity stake in Today Merchandise Pvt Ltd (TMPL) and Today Retail Network Pvt Ltd (TRNL), which are wholly owned subsidiaries of India Today Group’s entity Living Media India Ltd. The company plans to invest approximately Rs 165.78 crore over the next four years in scaling up this business.
Today Merchandise and Today Retail Network, which are currently running into losses, have been developing infrastructure for launching a TV shopping channel and also operate an e-commerce website called www.bagittoday.com to complement the TV shopping business.
With this acquisition, Zee Media is not only looking at shortening the launch timing of a TV shopping channel but is also planning to scale up the business at a faster pace.
By June 2016, ZMCL will acquire 49 per cent equity stake by investing approximately Rs 39.78 crore by subscribing to equity shares of TMPL and TRNL, at par value and will have managerial and operational control over the target entities.
Subsequently the company will increase its stake, by investing up to Rs 126 crore over a period of four years, by subscribing to any security convertible into equity shares of the two companies at par value, such that upon conversion, the shareholding of the company shall be 80 per cent of fully diluted capital of TMPL and TRNL.
TMPL was incorporated on 23 November, 2010. During financial years ended 31 March, 2015, 31 March, 2014 and 31 March, 2013, TMPL had achieved turnover of Rs 3.84 crore, Rs 5.25 crore and Rs 5.11 crore respectively.
On the other hand, TRNL was incorporated on 20 August, 2007 and during its financial years ended 31 March, 2015, 31 March, 2014 and 31 March, 2013, TRNL achieved turnover of Rs 37.36 crore, Rs 52.45 crore and Rs 49.80 crore respectively.
ZMCL’s board of directors have in-principal approved the stake acquisition. ZMCL, with its existing broadcast operations, is looking to derive the synergy benefits from this proposed investment.
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.
