News Broadcasting
IBN7 to enter entertainment space with ‘Bhabhi Tera Devar Deewana’ from 23 May
MUMBAI: The role of a news channel in today’s era is not just limited to reporting events accurately as they happen. Many channels have now started to break free from this ideology and have entered the entertainment space with various programmes. One such player invading into this space is IBN7. The channel is all geared up to air a unique entertainment show titled Bhabhi Tera Devar Deewana in their afternoon slot every weekday. The show will attract viewers through aspirational stories and will have different segments.
BTDD has been created internally and at the helm of everything from the idea to planning to execution to conceiving is the feature editor of the channel Manoj Kumar Singh.
Starting from 23 May at 2 pm, the 60 minute long show will be narrated from the unique perspective of a male character unlike the other majority of the shows which have female anchors. Differentiating from others, the channel will have a male host who will be referred as ‘desh ka devar’. With a vision to supply new appetite to the viewers, the channel is aimed at replacing TV news with an entertaining ‘tadkedaar’ content.
“Every viewer is important for us. News content consumption slows down during noon and this is the ideal time to show different aspects of TV industry. The show has been planned and executed after a period of 5 months. We cannot reveal the name of the anchor as our USP is the Desh ka Devar. We are extremely confident about this show”, says IBN7 deputy managing editor Sumit Awasthi.
“BTDD is the brainchild of Manoj. He and the team has worked hard behind this show which the audience will surely enjoy as it hits the tv sets”, adds Awasthi.
The channel has not locked any deals with advertisers yet and is in talks with various brands “There are several on-going conversations with potential advertisers from across various sectors. We can clearly discern significant interest in the show amongst advertisers, amongst the trade etc., given that what we are trying to do is disrupt how entertainment news is typically shown”, he further adds.
Targeting the female audience at large, the channel has planned an extensive marketing plan to push the show. Apart from the various promos, the channel also circulates 20-25 teasers every day which stars A-list TV actors who also are their brand ambassadors. The actors negate the ‘desh ka devar’ character creating buzz amongst the audiences.
The show will also be promoted on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., and will also be pushed on the News18 website.
“We will effectively utilize and leverage our Network which we believe will help us establish the show. Additionally we will use an effective mix of digital, OOH and other media to maximize the reach of the show”, concludes Awasthi.
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.
