News Broadcasting
Marathi new channels have potential to grow
NEW DELHI: Even if Marathi viewers understand Hindi with equal ease, the future is bright for Marathi TV news channels. And the reason behind this is that Hindi news channels fail to meet the needs of a Marathi viewer.
Marathi TV news editors believe that viewers of Maharashtra have an appetite for hard news, which the national news channels lag behind in the state.
Talking at the 4th News Television Summit, Star Majha editorial head Rajiv Khandekar and IBN Lokmat News editor Mandar Phanse agreed that the sensational and trivial content served by Hindi news channels is not digested by the Marathi viewer.
Khandekar started the discussion saying that all the three 24-hour Marathi news channels – Star Majha, IBN Lokmat and Zee 24 Taas – strictly adhere to “news and meaningful programming”.
“We don’t show bhoot-pret stuff on our channel, and neither sensationalise stories. Our programming also is focused on value addition, in terms of education, religion etc,” Khandekar said.
Phanse said Marathi news channels have to focus on politics and other issues. “There are so many issues within the state and we don’t need to drift focus. IBN Lokmat has made an impact with its programming.”
Talking about the financial aspects and business model of the channels, both agreed that being a part of a group helped in many ways. They don’t need to spend much on carriage as they are part of the bouquet; they can also get the national and international feed easily and the wide network of bureaux helps in news gathering operations.
Star Majha is a part of MCCS, which also operates Star News (Hindi) and Star Anand (Bangla). Zee 24 Taas, on the other hand, is part of Zee News Ltd, which has Hindi news channel Zee News and many regional language news channels. IBN Lokmat is a JV between Lokmat Group and IBN18, which runs CNN IBN and IBN7.
Phanse and Khandekar said revenues were not accurately tapped as their channels lacked in proper marketing and promotions.
“A properly marketed Marathi news channel can attain break-even in less than three years. But the problem is our channels are not marketed well,” Phanse agreed.
When questioned about the scope for more news channels in the same space, Khandekar cited examples of local cable channels. “In towns like Sholapur and Kolhapur there are 24-hour cable news channels. Actually, Maharashtra is so diverse that there can be news channels for specific regions – Vidarbha, Marathwada and Nagpur – and all can flourish,” said Khandekar.
Currently, apart from these three channels, public broadcaster DD Sahyadri, ETV Marathi, Saam Marathi and Mi Marathi telecast news capsules.
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.
