News Broadcasting
Roy asserts NDTV fast catching up on Aaj Tak
MUMBAI: Completing a year to the day of launching two news channels (launched 14 April 2003), the Prannoy Roy-promoted NDTV had its first roadshow event for the upcoming initial public offering (IPO).
As already reported, the IPO opens on 21 April and closes 28 April. The amount that NDTV expects to raise through the IPO is Rs 1,090 million.
The company has adopted the 100 per cent book building route for the process. The IPO will comprise fresh issue and an offer of shares of Rs 4 each in the price band of Rs 63-70 per share. Shareholders offering shares in the sale offer include GS Television Holdings, GS Media Holdings, Saffron Fund, JP Morgan Fleming India.
For the public the size of the offer will be Rs 1000 million while the rest will be for NDTV’s employees.
In his first public address at a south Mumbai hotel after the “cooling off period” that had been in place in lieu of the upcoming IPO, NDTV chairman and wholetime director Prannoy Roy said, “We have launched an IPO at this time as we are confident that we are long term players. We are the only growing news broadcaster in India. The others are either flat or are in a state of decline. The gap between the share of Aaj Tak and NDTV India is falling. Tam data states that while Aaj Tak’s share is 28 per cent NDTV’s is 19 per cent. So the number one and two slots in the Hindi news channel arena have been clearly defined.”
Roy went on to quote Tam data for the four weeks ended 20 March 2004. These are some of the figures he trotted out:
*NDTV 24×7 has the biggest reach of the English news channels reaching 19.58 million viewers. BBC is a distant second with 11.78 viewers.
*NDTV 24×7 has a market share of 37.1 per cent.
*NDTV India has a share of 17.3 per cent while Aaj Tak’s is 31.5 per cent.
*NDTV India has a reach of 29.10 million viewers while Aaj Tak’s is only
slightly higher at 30.45 million.
*In the Prime, Colour and S frequency bands NTDV India has stolen a march over Aaj Tak.
*NDTV 24×7 has 10 in the top 10 shows for English news channels. It has 180 out of the top 200 shows.
“Before we launched Aaj Tak had 200 out of 200 shows. Now they have 98 while NDTV India has 64 shows,” Roy said.
Talking about the company’s online initiative ndtv.com, Roy said it got the highest page views among the sites of all Indian news channels, according to trafficrankings.com. Among all Indian news sites NDTV was third behind Rediff and Indiatimes, he said.
Roy also asserted that NDTV was setting the pace when it came to programming. “Before we launched all Hindi news channels were doing was simply feeding the audiences with news and more news. We started innovations like analytical shows, going out on the street to capture the mood of the people. We even introduced a comedy satire. Then the other channels started following our lead.”
When asked about expansion plans that the fund infusion would be used for, Roy refused to elaborate, taking the cover that Sebi regulations prohibited him from making any forward looking statements. “It will be partly be used to repay loans,” was all he would offer.
On the progress his channels had made in the last one year, he was expectedly more forthcoming. “I will say that our business is all about the quality of our people. That comes first. Marketing and our distribution team, who have done a fantastic job considering that we had to start from scratch then, back this up. A year ago there were doubts as to how we would be able to make a dent in the broadcasting business and our track record speaks for itself.”
On the technical side Roy made a mention of the fully redundant earth station, the helicopter as the 15 Mpeg 4 OB vans. “The vans help us save costs on satellite renting. We introduced this concept when people had doubts regarding its feasibility.” He also mentioned that the share of print to TV was approaching the global 50:50 mark. In the English language however the ratio at the moment was 85:15 in favour of print. While advertising as a percentage of the GDP was low Roy expected this to change in the next several years. It could up from .44 to .67, he said.
Regarding advertising sales, Roy said NDTV’s inventory utilization on primetime was 41.2 per cent for the English channel while it is 34.2 per cent for NTDV India. NDTV has a base of 249 advertisers and has defined primetime as seven hours starting at 6 pm. It is using its strong reach and connectivity to attract new advertisers, he said.
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.
