News Broadcasting
Deal signed, ABP holds 74% in Star News holding company MCCS
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: In the end the “bhadralok” from Bengal, Aveek Sarkar, held firm and had his way in the matter of how much stake his Ananda Bazar Patrika Group would hold in the reconstituted Media Content and Communications Services India Pvt Ltd (MCCS).
The agreement signed today between ABP Pvt Ltd and the Star Group gives the West Bengal-based media company 74 per cent and Star 26 per cent in the augmented paid-up equity share capital of MCCS. Sarkar will have to cough up Rs 750 million for his 74 per cent stake, which means MCCS is being valued at a little over Rs 1 billion.
The new joint venture company MCCS, which is responsible for the broadcast of Star News, has been formed to comply with the revised government guidelines for the uplink of news channels out of India.
Accordingly, the board of directors of MCCS is also being reconstituted. Information available with indiantelevision.com indicates that there will be six members on the MCCS board headed by Sarkar himself. Ravina Raj Kohli continues as president of Star News, as too Sanjay Pugalia as news director of the channel.
MCCS, which will probably be filing a fresh uplink application before the government on Monday, will now reportedly be doing so as an ABP Group company in which Star is the minority stakeholder. Additionally, companies that Star News was outsourcing from like Touch Telecontent (India) Pvt Ltd (for infrastructure support) and Rent Works Ltd, are reportedly to be merged with MCCS.
What will be the arrangement as far as Hughes Software Systems Ltd, which supplies newsgathering and connectivity-related equipment to MCCS, is not immediately clear. It is reasonable to assume that Hughes remains out of the ambit of this merger. It may be recalled that US-based Hughes Electronics (which is in the process of being bought over by News Corp) owns 55.44 per cent equity stake in Hughes Software Systems Ltd.
A question that arises is what happens to the former stakeholders in MCCS? While Vir Sanghvi is out of the country and former largest stakeholder in MCCS Suhel Seth was unavailable for comment (as too Hemendra Kothari of DSP Merill Lynch), indiantelevision.com did manage to elicit a response from Jeetendra, chairman of Balaji Telefilms. Jeetendra, who held a 5 per cent stake in the earlier restructured MCCS, said the shares he’d held had already been returned. Queried as to what the terms were, he said Star had repaid the nominal amount he’d put down for the shares.
Commenting on the developments ABP managing director A Lahiri said, “This alliance is in line with the ABP Group’s strategy to get into the fastest growing media space from our traditional area of expertise, which is print media. Our partnership with Star Group will enable us to gain in terms of scope, scale and influence. In turn, ABP’s 80 years of history and expertise in content making will add value to Star News.”
Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea had this to say: “In ABP we found a strong media partner that shares our vision for Star News – providing Indian viewers, news that is unbiased and relevant to our country. We have great faith and confidence that a partnership such as this – of two leading media companies will be a stepping stone into a very positive future for our viewers, advertisers, cable operators and all stake holders.”
Star News came into being in its current avatar in April after its content contract with Prannoy Roy’s NDTV ceased. The Hindi news channel is headquartered in Mumbai, has a super bureau in Delhi and 19 regional bureaux across the country.
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.
