News Broadcasting
CNBC may hold up to 15% stake in TV-18
NEW DELHI: CNBC Asia may hold up to 15 per cent equity stake in Television Eighteen Ltd., which also recently obtained a licence to uplink from India.
Though neither TV-18 nor CNBC Asia agreed to throw some official light on the issue, market analysts said that keeping CNBC Asia shareholding within the 15 per cent limit would help TV-18 not having to go in for an offer, a clause that would get triggered off if the percentage of the shareholding being offloaded by a listed company is more than 15 per cent.
“We are quite happy with a minority stake as it is more important to work with a good partner,” CNBC Asia Pacific president and CEO Alexander Brown told indiantelevision.com.
Moreover, the NBC and Dow Jones company CNBC Asia’s shareholding cannot be 26 per cent as till today evening, the existing foreign component in TV-18 already amounted to about 11 per cent — a figure that may vary from day to day — in the form of NRI/OCB/FII holdings.
This means that if today, CNBC Asia wanted to quantify its shareholding in the company, which has not happened officially anyway, then it would have amounted to just 15 per cent, while the total foreign holding in TV 18 would have amounted to 26 per cent.
“The existing foreign holding in the company would be a big factor in determining the other aspects of the agreement, including the valuation of the company,” Television Eighteen Ltd. MD Raghav Bahl told indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of a press conference organised here to announce the restructuring of the company as per Indian government rules that say total foreign shareholding in a company, desirous of uplinking news content from India, cannot be more than 26 per cent.
The TV-18 scrip today closed 3.7 per cent higher at Rs. 85 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, while the main index slipped 0.53 per cent.
The restructuring move comes ahead of the stipulated 90-day deadline given by the Indian government. After this, all eyes would be on Star News that also has to comply with rules within the stipulated period.
Pointing out that, in fact, the restructuring would amount to a demerger, Bahl said that it has to be examined whether a separate entity, like TV 18 Business News, for instance, needs to be created to complete a complex restructuring.
After the restructuring is complete, the business news channel would be rechristened CNBC India-TV 18 as part of a co-branding exercise.
“The Mauritus-registered CNBC India, a 51:49 joint venture between CNBC Asia and TV-18 that used to manage the affairs of the business news channel, would cease to operate,” Bahl said.
Since the valuation of TV-18 has not yet been undertaken — “the mandate for that will be given now,” according to Bahl — both CNBC Asia and TV-18 could not disclose the amount that CNBC would pay for the strategic equity stake in TV-18.
Earlier, Television Eighteen India informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that it will comply with the government order issued in mid-March restricting foreign equity investments in news and current affairs channels to 26 per cent or below. It sent a notice to the BSE stating the same early this morning.
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.
