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DD struggles to meet revenue target; Quraishi blames cricket
NEW DELHI: Doordarshan is “struggling” to meet its annual revenue target, a senior official of Prasar Bharati said today.
While speaking to the journalists about Doordarshan’s programming line up for Gulf War coverage in collaboration with Saeed Naqvi’s Third Eye, Doordarshan director-general SY Quraishi today admitted: “I know it’s already February, but we are struggle a bit to meet our (annual) revenue target.”
According to Quraishi, during the last financial year, which ended on 31 March 2002, DD had netted a total revenue of about Rs 625 billion.
Quraishi reiterated that the fall in the revenue this year is because of the “unrealistic” high amount of money that had come in last year, courtesy two deals that have fallen apart now. The two deals, which he mentioned, were the HFCL-Channel Nine deal for DD Metro and Budha Films’ marketing rights for cricket on DD.
Quraishi also pointed out that because of the poor performance of the Indian cricket team at the World Cup, revenues of the national broadcaster may get hit.
The DG said: “Looking at the continuing bad performance of Indian team, DD may end up making slightly less revenue than that projected,” adding that the revenue sharing will be also contribute to the loss. DD and Nimbus are in a 20:80 revenue sharing deal; this is apart from a minimum guarantee money promised by Nimbus for the cricket matches.
DD is airing 16 matches live on DD national, while another 27 matches are being aired on DD Metro a day after the match has being played.
Quraishi also mentioned that DD will be doing some live programming as part of its Union Budget special on 28 February. According to the data, last year’s coverage, including the Railway Budget, got DD 95 per cent viewership.
DD had been allocated Rs.800 million by the Planning Commission for fresh programming . Quraishi said that “efforts are to utilise the fund on commissioning programmes, especially for DD Bharati.”
Meanwhile, Third Eye will be getting Rs 500,000 per day for Gulf war coverage. Quraishi explained the outsourcing will be a “safe bet without risking our own employees.
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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.
