News Broadcasting
On New Year’s Eve, still Star Plus’ soaps that ruled
MUMBAI: If it was Star Plus’ soaps that ruled the TRP charts in the year gone by, the tale was no different as Hindi entertainment television bid adieu to 2003.
While a whole lot of people were letting their hair down on New Year’s Eve, there was that loyal lot who was glued to the television too. And unsurprisingly most of them were watching Star Plus.
For Star Plus it was a matter of having its cake and eating it too. The TAM India ratings of CS 4+years homes of programmes aired across various channels from 8:30 pm onwards on 31 December 2003 tell their own tale. It wasn’t the special events or programmes that were popular with the viewers on New Year’s Eve but rather Star Plus staple of daily soaps.
Star Plus, which did not have any special programming lined up, instead chose to weave the New Year angle into their soaps. The strategy seems to have worked well and one of the top rated programmes on the channel was Kasautii Zindagii Kay which aired at 8.30 pm and garnered TRPs of 13.99 in Mumbai on 31 December 2003, whereas it notched TRPs of 16.55 in Delhi. Across the six metros Kasautii… led with a TRP of 9.39 when compared to other popular soaps like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki , Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi and Sanjivani,.
Star’s innovative packaging on 31 December started with the Khichdi characters getting ready for the new year party at 8 pm who move across the sets of various Star serials, starting from Kasautii…, moving on to Sanjivani, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahiin To Hoga and finally ending the party with Kaahin Kissii Roz..
Kyunki… followed close behind Kasautii… with TRPs of 12.69 in Mumbai, 14.95 in Delhi and 8.32 across the six metros. Sanjivani, followed trail with TRPs of 12.59 in Mumbai and an average of 7.7 across the six metros on 31 December.
For the record, Zee TV had hauled funny man Sajid Khan who was all pervasive on the channel in a special programme called Jalwaa Unlimited which aired from 8.30 pm.
While Sajid failed to hook audiences on Zee, he did an ok job on Sony Entertainment Television’s Non Stop Hungama which was aired at 10 pm. He anchored the show with a gang of secretaries from Sony’s ace card Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin. The show boasted of performances by Fardeen Khan, Salman Khan, Govinda, Aarti Chabbria, Ishita Arun, Yana Gupta, Kanta Laga girl – Shefali Zariwala and Kaliyon Ka Chaman Meghna Naidu. The show managed a TRP of 5.38 in Kolkata and 4.18 in Mumbai, with an average of 4.18 in the six metros.
Jassi… remained low in the TRP race and failed to offer competition to the ‘K’ soaps as it managed TRPs of 4.92 in Delhi across CS 4+years homes and 2.99 in Mumbai. Could the Jassi magic be fading after the initial hype and hoopla?
Action channel AXN, meanwhile, had an 84-hour movie marathon and Continuous Wild On marathon as a bonus. However, it did not quite gather marathon TRPs. In the six metros Wild On, which was aired at 11 pm managed ratings of 0.3, in Mumbai 0.5 and in Delhi 0.36 in CS 4+years homes. Sexy American model Brooke Burke took the couch adventurers on a wild ride around the world in search of some of Planet Earth’s most exotic and beautiful locales.
Sahara Manoranjan famous for bringing big screen biggies to the small screen through various concerts, shows and more recently even serials, had yet another treat for the viewers on 31 December. Sahara had lined up a filmi fare with the Now or Never Live in Concert. The show which was aired on 30 and 31 December from 8.30 pm onwards notched up a TRP of 3.75 in Kolkata, while managing only 1.61 and 1.39 in Mumbai and Delhi respectively across CS 4+years homes.
Viewer fatigue or no viewer fatigue, Star Plus with its family sagas held sway in the numbers’ game even on 31 December 2003. Without, it needs repeating, any special programming lined up to woo viewers.
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.
