News Broadcasting
Republic Media Network emerges in pole position in BARC news ratings
Republic Media Network claims to establish complete and ultimate news dominance across the English, Hindi and Bangla news genres.
According to the latest BARC data provided by Republic Media Network, the channel claims to record a smashing performance across India, and across time bands.
Across Republic TV, Republic Bharat and Republic Bangla, Republic Media Network has witnessed increased viewership. Republic TV is 200 percent greater than the Number 2 channel TIMES NOW.
Republic TV’s continued dominance in super primetime was once again established by the whopping 44 per cent viewership share it recorded in the time band. Across India, Republic TV’s viewership was 270 per cent greater than India Today, and 330 per cent greater than CNN News18.
Source – BARC India | Target Group:-NCCS 15+ | Period:- WK.10’22 | Market:- India | Days:- All Days
Source – BARC India | Target Group:-NCCS M 22+ | Period:- WK.10’22 | Market:- West Bengal | Days:- Weekdays | Time:- 1700-2000
Source- BARC India | Target Group:-NCCS AB 22+ | Period:- WK.10’22 | Market:- HSM | Days:- Weekdays | Time:- 1900-2000
This all-round performance that has towered over the competition single-handedly shatters the entire conspiracy and propaganda campaigns against Republic TV.
Republic Bharat has continued to dominate the Hindi news genre with a splendid and record-breaking performance that has unseated AajTak in primetime. Republic Bharat’s primetime show Poochta Hai Bharat is in pole position as India’s most-watched news show in its slot. As India’s most loved Hindi news channel which has dominated on its coverage of the Ukraine-Russia War and the recently concluded elections, the record viewership ratings released today have once again toppled the legacy Hindi news player.
With the scorching and historic entry of Republic Bangla into the Bengal news genre, a new order in Bengali news has been undisputedly established.
Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief, Arnab Goswami, said, “The viewership across the Network is historical. These numbers are the ultimate answer to the conspirators who laboriously spent months hatching conspiracy after conspiracy against us. The truth and the viewership are both with the Republic because we have the faith of the people of India, and no one can change that.”
Specifically commenting on the wide gap between Republic and the competition, Goswami said, “We are 200 per cent bigger than any other channel in the English News Genre. That is unmatched dominance. In Hindi, with Republic Bharat we have become the leading channel much ahead of AajTak in the most critical slots. In Bangla, we have created history by a thundering entry. We have become Number 1, beating ABP Ananda in primetime which was the leading channel there. Today, with pride I can say that Republic is the largest News Network in India. These phenomenal results are a slap in the face of channels who conspired against us.”
On the overwhelming reaction from the people of India, Goswami said, “We are flooded with calls from Advertisers, Supporters and Viewers who are calling the channel to congratulate us. We are so grateful for their support.”
“There is a phenomenal spirit and energy in all our newsrooms—Mumbai, Noida and Kolkata. I am so proud of my team who has let their journalism do the talking. I will say though that even though this is a big vindication Brand Republic, the game has just begun,” he added.
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.
