News Broadcasting
News24 to hike ad rates by 40% post revamp
MUMBAI: A decade after making a headway into India’s burgeoning news TV industry, Hindi news channel News24 has given itself a makeover to stay relevant in the current times. The channel, owned by BAG Network and Media, got a new logo design and tagline of ‘Think First’ earlier this month.
Talking to Indiantelevision.com, BAG Network CMD and News24 editor-in-chief Anurradha Prasad said that the revamp was initiated since the channel had completed 10 years in the market and as she expected 2018 to be a major milestone for the industry.
“After the revamp, which involves several operational changes, we plan to increase the ad rates by 30-40 per cent. We are gearing ourselves up for an action-packed 2018 since it will be a very big year for news thanks to the state and general elections,” Prasad pointed out. She pegged the Hindi news genre at Rs 5000 crore in terms of revenue, significantly larger than the English news genre.
Distribution is the biggest challenge for the industry and the cost involved is high. “Since we are a free-to-air channel, our entire revenue is dependent on advertisers. If all the FTA channels spend 60 per cent of that for distribution, it is bound to impact the content. The way forward is through optimal use of technology and smartphones,” she said.
Alongside the channel refresh, the channel’s shows have received a brand-new look as well. Sabse Bada Sawwal with Sandeep Chaudhary airs at 7 pm followed by Rashtra ki Baat with Manav Gupta. In the former, experts provide their views on the latest issues and question the authorities. In the other show, the anchor sheds light on the current affairs, news updates and social issues of the country.
Prasad says that the channel is bringing out a new cybercrime show for the weekend that will be an eye-opener for the youth and parents. “People are unaware of the dark web and how it operates and the 13-episode show will aim to unravel that.”
The channel aims to empower its viewers with news without any agenda. According to Prasad, News24 has a reach of 7.5 to 8 crore households a week with presence in 90 per cent of homes in the Hindi-speaking market.
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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.
