News Broadcasting
NDTV Q3 2005 net profit Rs 26 million; declares entertainment channel plans
MUMBAI: Very much in line with market expectations, the Prannoy Roy promoted-NDTV Ltd today announced a net profit of Rs 26.5 million for the third quarter ended 31 December 2005, down 82 per cent from a consolidated net of Rs 148.92 million in the corresponding quarter in 2004.
On the revenue side, income registered a 29.5 per cent growth over the same quarter last year.
In a conference call to analysts and reporters while announcing the results, Roy also spelled out the future plans for his network, including foraying into the general entertainment segment. NDTV is also looking at selling a stake in its website ndtv.com, to help fund new initiatives.
As regards the quarterly results, the company’s Net was eroded to a large extent due to the high quantum that went in as ESOPs for the employees that amounted to Rs 114.7 million.
Still, that is an improvement over the immediately preceding quarter when the news broadcast major posted a net loss of Rs 65 million, slipping into the red for the first time since going public as expenses on personnel surged.
On future plans, Reuters quotes Roy as saying, “There’s a lot of interest for a strategic stake in ndtv.com, and we are weighing the option of unlocking value in it right now, or six months down the line.”
The company will also launch a general entertainment channel in India, possibly over the next six months, and look at broadcasting separate regional language feeds to the big cities, the report quotes Roy as saying.
Among the performance indicators that the company has chosen to highlight is the addition of 245 new brands and 96 new advertisers to its marketing base.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
The news broadcaster tied up with digital platforms with DirecTV (USA), BSkyB (UK) and ATN (Canada) to launch the English news channel NDTV 24×7. With this, NDTV’s global presence now extends across four continents.
NDTV’s marketing and sales subsidiary, NDTV Media has entered into a strategic tie-up with MSN to represent and market MSN in India. NDTV has also entered into the e-commerce business with the formal launch of ndtvshopping.com.
Earlier, this year, NDTV LTD marked its foray into radio through its subsidiaries, NDTV News LTD, together with the infotech company Value Labs, Malaysian broadcaster Astro. The company has acquired a minority stake in three radio companies that hold licenses for FM radio broadcasting in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata under the brand name of Red FM. The company entry into the radio venture has happened at a time when the licensing regime for radio has liberalised considerably, making efficiently run radio ventures profitable.
This is a significant step as NDTV develops into a multimedia company.
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.
