News Broadcasting
Mirrow Now aims to engage viewers in 34-36 urban cities
MUMBAI: A short-term void is being turned into an opportunity. Times Network seems to be upping its news game with more, distinct and differentiated channels, creating more intellectual properties, with the involvement of the most critical stakeholder – the viewer. Strategies and leadership at the network have seen a significant change in the last few months which has enabled them to achieve sustainable growth despite growing competition in the news space.
With Mirror Now reaching to 3,65,000 viewers per week in five weeks and Times Now leading the general news category week by week, the nation’s most affluent television network is geared up for another successful year. “Mirrow Now’s aim is to involve and engage the viewers in the 34-36 urban cities with a million-plus population in India,” Times Network MD and CEO MK Anand told indiantelevision.com.
Mirror Now, which claims to have a relative percentage growth of 6% since its launch on 22 March, is committed to making lives better for the people of the nation each day. Being a channel which takes up the consumer’s issues and discussing and analysing government policies which directly impact the common man, it is differentiated by its content. “Discussing the everyday issues of life, from crime and corruption to roads and traffic congestion and to grave issues such as women’s safety, Mirror Now aims to demand accountability from powers that can drive improvement,” Mirrow Now editor Faye D’Souza said. Her distinctive news reporting with the ability to simplify complex concepts with ease has made every news story impactful.
With an aim to mobilise and actualise the plans, Mirror Now takes into consideration the citizen’s opinion to look for an opportunity for action and ensures accountability at all levels. Mirror Now is striving to work on the agenda for change and works towards giving better living conditions to the citizens of India. “We would actually track how much time it takes for an office-goer driving from Churchgate or Bandra to reach his home, say, in Borivali — and bring this to the notice of the concerned authorities,” D’Souza said.
The channel has already started making the difference that it set out to make with a lot of results driven through impactful stories on Mirror Now. As viewers relate to stories that have closely have a bearing on them — physically and emotionally, Mirror Now is aiming to reach the ideal average viewership per week required to stabilise a channel (4,50,000 – 5,00,000). To a question on a general lack of rigorous follow-ups of news stories, Anand reassured that all the critical stories were being definitely followed up.
Discussing threadbare and questioning policies that impact people at the city-level and taking up the real-life issues of the common man is uncommon on a national English channel. Mirror Now seems to be doing just that.
Also Read:
Times Now leadership continues, new launches notwithstanding, says MK Anand
Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand speaks out on l’affaire Arnab
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.
