News Broadcasting
Network18 keeps the news rolling as revenues buck ad slowdown in Q3
MUMBAI: When the ad market blinked, Network18 refused to. The broadcaster posted a resilient third quarter, with operating revenue from its news business rising 5 per cent year-on-year to Rs 500 crore in Q3 FY26, even as the wider TV news industry grappled with a double-digit drop in advertising demand.
Compared with Rs 477 crore in Q2 FY26, revenues were up 4.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter, underscoring Network18’s ability to steady the ship in choppy macro waters. For the first nine months of the financial year, news business operating revenue stood at Rs 1,408 crore, up 2.4 per cent year-on-year, despite a high base created by election-linked advertising last year.
Operating expenses grew in step but remained tightly controlled, rising 5.1 per cent YoY to Rs 489 crore in Q3. This helped operating EBITDA climb to Rs 11.8 crore, a sharp 60.7 per cent jump over the previous quarter, with margins improving to 2.4 per cent from 1.5 per cent in Q2.
The performance came at a time when ad inventory demand for TV news declined by over 10 per cent YoY. Network18 limited the impact through better inventory utilisation, supported by its diversified portfolio across languages and platforms and its strong leadership positions.
Commenting on the quarter, Network18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai said the group continued to defy industry trends despite a challenging macro environment, adding that government steps to boost consumption could eventually translate into higher advertising spends.
Beyond the balance sheet, the quarter saw strategic momentum. Network18 scaled up Creator18, its creator-led advertising vertical, to over 60 exclusive creators, with the top 10 delivering an unduplicated reach of more than 2 billion. Its first creator-driven TV show, Viral Baat Raunac Ke Saath, clocked over 3 million YouTube views.
Digital remained a strong growth lever. Moneycontrol doubled page views versus its nearest rival, crossed one million paid subscribers, and continued to build traction for its premium Super Pro offering. The network also renewed its partnership with CNN International for another 10 years, cementing its English news dominance.
On television, Network18 retained its crown as India’s number one news network, with viewership share rising 110 basis points YoY to 14.2 per cent. Across TV and digital, the group now reaches around 300 million users every month, while its 20-channel news portfolio connects with over 230 million TV viewers, roughly 45 per cent more than the nearest competitor.
In a year where advertising headwinds have tested the industry, Network18’s numbers suggest one thing clearly: the news may be tough, but the business of news is holding firm.
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.
