News Broadcasting
Raj TV plans business news channels in southern languages
MUMBAI: The regional news channel space is set for segmentation. Hoping to enter a genre untapped by broadcasters in the southern region, Raj Television Network (RTN) is planning to launch business news channels in the four languages of Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.
“The board has given a nod and we are in the process of applying for licenses. We want to launch business news channels in the southern languages,” says Raj Television Network director M Raveendran.
The first of the sibling channels to come out would be in the Tamil language. RTN, which raised Rs 917.4 million through an initial public offering (IPO) early this year, already operates Raj TV and Raj Digital Plus.
Kalanithi Maran’s Sun TV Ltd, which is the dominant player in the southern region, has a string of news channels but none in the pure business segment. The view taken so far by broadcasters is that the market has not matured for a niche segment news channel in the southern languages.
Raj TV is also planning to step outside the southern region. The company is evaluating the feasibility of youth and current affairs channels in Marathi and Gujarati languages.
Outside the news space, Raj TV plans to launch a kids channel in Tamil. “The board has approved the proposal for launching 12 channels. This includes a toons channel to cater to the kids,” says Raveendran.
Rival Sun TV is launching a kids channel with an investment outlay of Rs 400 million this year. Sports and documentary channels are also slated for launch this fiscal.
Raj TV is planning to launch a youth-centric multi-lingual channel aimed at the 14-40 age group, for which it has earmarked Rs 107 million from its IPO proceeds. “We are launching this channel in June,” says Raveendran.
Regional broadcasters are expanding their presence and making forays into new geographies. Such growth stories are pulling valuations up as private equity funds are sensing worth in regional media companies. The Blackstone group, a global private investment firm, has plunked down $275 million for a 26 per cent stake in Ushodaya Enterprises Ltd (UEL), which owns the Eenadu newspaper and ETV group of regional channels. Hyderabad-based TV9 is planning to launch news channels for Mumbai, Gujarat and National Capital Region (NCR) territories and is in talks with two funds to raise Rs 2.5 billion.
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.
