News Broadcasting
Q3 2019: BAG Films Television and Radio Dhaamal profits up
BENGALURU: The Anurradha Prasad-led BAG Films and Media Ltd (BAG Films) reported 38.1 per cent higher year-on-year (y-o-y) consolidated revenue for the quarter ended 31 December 2018 (Q3- 019, period or quarter, under review) at Rs 48.67 crore as compared to Rs 33.94 crore in the corresponding prior year quarter.
BAG Films radio segment, Radio Dhamaal, which operates 10 FM radio stations in the country, reported 17.2 per cent y-o-y increase in operating revenue at Rs 3.06 crore for Q3 2019 as compared to Rs 2.61 crore for Q3 2018.
The radio segment’s operating profit in Q3 2019 was more than double (up 131.7 per cent) y-o-y at Rs 1.64 crore as compared to Rs 0.71 crore in Q3 2018.
Note: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore
(2) All numbers are consolidated numbers unless stated otherwise.
BAG Films reported more than eightfold increase (up 743.9 percent) in consolidated Profit after Tax (PAT) and Total Comprehensive Income (TCI) for the quarter under review at Rs 9.3 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 1.11 crore in Q3-2018.
EBITDA in the period under review at Rs 15.75 crore (33.6 per cent margin of operating revenue) increased 85.4 percent y-o-y as compared to Rs 8.49 crore (25 per cent margin of operating revenue) in the corresponding prior year quarter.
Segment Numbers
The company has mentioned 4 segments in its financial results. They are Audio-Visual Production (AVP); Leasing; FM Radio; and Television Broadcasting. FM Radio numbers have already been mentioned above.
Television Broadcasting segment (TV segment)
BAG Films major segment, Television Broadcasting (TV segment) reported almost flat revenues (0.6 percent y-o-y growth) for Q3 2019 at Rs 29.48 crore as compared to Rs 29.30 crore in Q3 2018.
The TV segment reported 22.4 per cent y-o-y growth in operating profit at Rs 16.62 crore as compared to Rs 13.58 crore in Q3 2018.
Audio Visual Production segment (AVP segment)
AVP segment reported more than double (2.39 times) revenue in Q3-2019 at Rs 4.16 crore as compared to Rs 1.74 crore in Q3-2018. The segment reported an operating profit in Q3-2019 of Rs 2.35 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 0.20 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
Leasing segment (The numbers for this segment are mentioned in lakh – 100 lakh = 1 crore)
BAG Films leasing segment reported revenue of just Rs 16.30 lakh in the quarter as compared to Rs 29.01 lakh in Q3-2019.The segment reported an operating loss of Rs 74.70 lakh as compared to an operating loss of Rs 102.84 lakh in Q3-2018.
Let us look at the other numbers reported by B. A. G. Films
BAG Films total expenditure in the current quarter at Rs 38.26 crore (81.6 per cent of operating revenue) was 14.9 per cent higher y-o-y than Rs 33.29 crore (98.1 percent of operating revenue) in Q3 2018.
Employee Cost in Q3-2019 at Rs 6 crore (12.8 per cent of operating revenue) was 10 per cent lower y-o-y than Rs 6.67 crore (19.7 percent of operating revenue) in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Other expenses in Q3 2019 increased 25.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 24.49 crore from Rs 19.53 crore in Q3 2018. Finance costs in Q3 2019 increased 5.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 3.97 crore from Rs 3.76 crore in the corresponding prior year quarter.
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.
