News Broadcasting
NH Studioz paves the way for Doordarshan’s grand revival
Mumbai: NH Studioz, one of India’s premier content houses with a colossal copyright library of over 2500 feature films, has been awarded the tender and entered into a landmark agreement with Doordarshan (DD), India’s pioneering and most widely watched television channel. In a significant move that marks a new era of content synergy, NH Studioz has leased slots on DD for a two-year period, taking complete ownership of daily afternoon slots from 1 pm to 4 pm and weekend prime time slots from 8 pm onwards. They will be taking care of entire programming, advertising sales, marketing, and promotions.
The agreement includes exclusive programming, advertising sales, marketing, and promotional responsibilities. Doordarshan, with its historical significance as India’s first and oldest television channel, boasts an unparalleled reach. The channel’s cultural impact, strategic placement on all platforms, government partnership, and emotional connect with viewers from diverse demographics make it the ideal platform for NH Studioz to expand its reach and engage with audiences nationwide.
NH Studioz director Shreyans Hirawat expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “This partnership with Doordarshan represents a historic moment for NH Studioz. We are excited to bring our extensive content library and programming expertise to DD’s platform, and we look forward to providing captivating entertainment to viewers across the nation.”
NH Studioz’s decision to collaborate with Doordarshan aligns with DD’s aggressive approach to revitalise its platform with new and engaging content. Recent initiatives by DD include shows by renowned creators like Subhash Ghai (“Janaki”), Shilpa Shetty (“Yoga”), and a collaboration with Netflix for “Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”
NH Studioz sees this partnership with Doordarshan as a significant step in shaping the future of entertainment in India. It combines the strength of NH Studioz’s vast content library and programming expertise with Doordarshan’s historic presence, wide reach, and enduring cultural significance. Together, they aim to provide engaging content to viewers across the nation, from tier 2 and tier 3 markets to cultural and festive occasions, reinforcing Doordarshan’s position as an integral part of Indian families.
With a history of delivering exceptional cinematic experiences, NH Studioz has established itself as a major contributor to the programming of leading movie channels like Star Gold, Zee Cinema, and Set Max, consistently accounting for impressive programming of their content. The studio’s diverse film library, spanning from classics of the 1950s to contemporary releases in 2023, caters to audiences of all demographics and features the biggest names in Indian cinema, including icons like Amitabh Bachchan, Kartik Aryan, Ranbir Kapoor, and more. NH Studioz boasts a vibrant social media presence, with an engaged audience viewing approximately 50 million hours monthly across 33 channels, serving a subscriber base of 35 million users.
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.
