News Broadcasting
How Mathrubhumi News keeps the show going during lockdown
MUMBAI: The show must go on, come what may. News channels, which have been tagged under the essential services category, continue to produce fresh news content by disseminating information to the viewers irrespective of the Covid2019 challenges. How do they go about their daily business in spite of the restrictions of social distancing? Mathrubhumi News chief executive officer Mohan Nair explains the modus operandi deployed by his channel during the lockdown, which has worked well for him even as it has now moved into a faster pace, following the lifting of the curbs in Kerala.
Nair told indiantelevision.com: “It is the most trying time, and being a news channel, you cannot compromise on the content and quality at a time when there has been a massive surge in the television news consumption.” The channel has implemented a three-pillar formula to continue with their smooth operation during the Covid2019 pandemic.
In an attempt to maintain social distancing and curb the spread of the virus at office premises, Mathrubhumi News divided itself into three parts with respect to the workforce, wherein two teams would come to the office and work for extended hours, while the third team is kept as a standby in a ‘no work remain home’ system, which has been monitored by the HR department,” says Nair. These are the two pillars of their strategy: the reduced staff at the office and a team on a standby as a last-minute resort.
He adds that these teams function in a rotational manner each week. For example, in the first week, if the first two teams have been working from the office with extended hours and third-team standby at home, then the consecutive week second and third team comes to the office and first-team stays as home as standby.
This division is done within all teams across bureaus that include PCR, MCR, anchors, editorial, admin, housing, technical among others, except for the reporters of the channel. Nair says: “The news we run is only of Covid2019 and reporters have been reporting from fields, hospitals, and interviewing those who are under quarantine. So the chances of them being exposed to the virus are high, and hence, we have asked them to report from wherever possible through video calling or TVU mobile applications.”
“We have a protocol of sanitising the office in between the shifts and also sanitise each employee coming to the office. Not just that, we don’t let the cameraman along with his equipment in before sanitising him, as well as the vehicle he has been travelling in,” says Nair. The moment Kerala started seeing a spike in Covid2019 cases, the Mathrubhumi News management had taken a decision to provide employees with all the necessary safety equipment such as gloves, masks, sanitizers.
The third and most important pillar is technology. “We have been using all necessary technologies to not only connect with reporters but also guests, politicians, chief minister’s office, and other important ministers through video calling applications or by the TVU mobile application. Through OFC lines, which are installed at chief minister's office, ministries, and other political party offices and their places, it becomes easy to connect to them digitally,” says Nair.
Nair adds: “The technology we have been using to connect to people is not new; we had been using it earlier too; however, the increase or dependency of it has increased substantially over the period of time due to the Covid2019 situation.” The channel uses Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom and all other video calling applications for broadcast but most-preferred one is TVU application that helps it to maintain broadcast quality and to overcome the other technical challenges.
The channel, so far, has hosted many interviews virtually, one of them with the state health minister to answer people’s queries and address their concerns about the virus. Moreover, in order to entertain the audience, the channel also brings the celebrities to talk to people, motivate them, entertain them and also share their daily lifestyle during the pandemic period.
Every other channel, be it mainstream or regional, is trying their best to run the show while engaging the audience. While news channels follow each other’s steps, Mathrubhumi is ensuring the show of broadcasting news continues uninterrupted.
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.
