News Broadcasting
Roy vows to resist political pressure in news coverage
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: “Experienced journalists, not news readers is what we offer!”
Thus, Dr Prannoy Roy sought to differentiate his soon-to-be-launched channels from the rest of an ever-growing pack, in a 14-city press conference connected live via V-sat. The assembled media from across the country was given a first glimpse and feel of the two channels that are set to begin beaming into Indian homes from 2 pm on Monday, 14 April – NDTV India and NDTV 24×7.
Dr Roy stressed the channels’ core strength was the quality of the journalistic team behind the project. Putting forth what the channels represented, Dr Roy said the tag line for NDTV 24×7 – “Experience and truth first” and NDTV India – “Khabar wohi jo such dikaye (news should always seek to reveal the truth)”, stressed on that theme.
Dr Roy had to answer some tough questioning, especially on NDTV’s coverage of Gujarat, both at the time of the riots as well as during the recently held elections where he was accused of clear bias. Dr Roy stoutly defended the editorial stances that the channel had taken on Gujarat, adding that his channels would continue to report as it saw fit and would not buckle under political pressure.
It must also be handed to Dr Roy that he can charm his way out of any situation. “News is not entertainment as it’s a serious profession,” he said, probably with his tongue firmly in cheek. The barb appeared to be directed principally at old associate turned rival Star News though he would not be drawn into a comment as to who his main competitor was. “We are not a dumb channel for dumb people,” Dr Roy added for good measure.
Is NDTV also in the business of breaking news and going in for sensationalism? “We believe in showing the truth without any sensationalism and we will continue to do so. Without bowing under any pressure,” Dr Roy said as pens and pencils flew across notepads to take notes.
And how unfortunate that what would have been the only Indian media company to be embedded with the coalition forces in Iraq, could not do so as NDTV channels were not on air. In hindsight though, probably, NDTV would thank God as not being on air saved it from the cheer-leading that most Western embedded journos did for the Allied forces – a point that was noticed elsewhere in the world and did not go down very well with non-US and UK media and viewers.
Some of the technical advantages, NDTV says it has to offer, are as follows: as reported earlier on indiantelevision.com, NDTV has its own helicopter. Additionally, through an exclusive arrangement with Deccan Aviation, NDTV will have access to nine other helicopters and two planes in different cities.
NDTV is also employing “opt-out technology” that will allow viewers in one city to watch local programming while the rest of the country is watching the national news schedule, claims Dr Roy. “To begin with, Mumbai would have its own Marathi programme every evening,” said Dr Roy.
And following the lead provided by Star India, Mumbai is getting prominence in the scheme of things. “Mumbai will be the national news hub for the network,” says Dr Roy.
Dr Roy sought to highlight the brand equity the network possessed when he declared that advertisers had committed ad spends of over Rs 100 million even before the launch of the channel.
That Dr Roy is a shrewd businessman as also a good TV personality can be gauged from the fact that he went in for a live press conference covering 14 cities. Q&As back and forth from different cities, including “smaller centres” like Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, not only was a first of its kind in the industry, but also saved him money on separate press conferences across the country.
Though Dr Roy also felt that journalists should only ask questions and not answer them, the broadcasting icon, as a the press release described him, is adept at avoiding tricky queries.
Take, for example, a poser to him by indiantelevision.com at the Delhi studio, from where the whole exercise was being anchored, “How much of investment has gone into the two channels? What would be the size of the media campaign for the two news channels? What are the financial details for the tie-up with Deccan Aviation for the choppers for fast news gathering?”. The stock reply that journalists got – expectedly – no figures because of non-disclosure agreement.
Yes, what Dr Roy did admit was as part of the media campaign, NDTV would also use hoardings, apart from cross channel promos on One Alliance channels.
Oh, yes, the journalists were also informed that both the NDTV channels are fully Indian owned and that NDTV is a debt-free company? Nothing more nothing less.
Asked whether Murdoch’s arrival on the scene at Hughes Electronics (see indiantelevision.com headline Murdoch seals $6.6 billion deal for Hughes Electronics) would affect in some way, the transmission of the two NDTV channels from PAS 10, Roy rolled his eyes and then in his ever-charming way said, “That seems a bit far fetched.. we don’t foresee any problems. Anyway, PanAm Sat functions more as an independent organisation.”
The two proposed channels from NDTV would be on PAS 10 satellite that is already used by the Sony channels, Discovery, Animal Planet and BBC, amongst other broadcasters.
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.
