News Broadcasting
Star has lock on Top 10, two new Zee shows in TAM Top 100
Some 63 of Star Plus’ shows figure in The Top 100 TAM ratings chart for the week ended 8 September 2001 for samples taken from the the two main metros Mumbai and Delhi. Twenty-seven shows of Sony Entertainment, nine Zee shows and one show (Haqeeqat) from the Sahara stable make up the rest of the chart for Hindi entertainment channels.
For Star Plus, the Balaji soaps Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki following close behind make up the top eight.
For Sony Entertainment, Kkusum has now firmly established itself as the top show though weekly action thriller serial CID came in higher at 17 on the ratings chart. However, if the Mumbai territory and Delhi territory are examined individually, Kkusum was the top notcher.
Zee TV’s old war horses Close Up Antakshari, Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Koshish Ek Aasha and Amanat continue to lead the Zee challenge. Of Zee’s new shows, only Kohi Apna Sa (60) and Justujoo (95) figure in the combined list. However, in the Delhi sample, Chotti Maa (58) – the Hindi remake of the Tamil superhit serial Chiththi – comes in ahead of Kohi Apna Sa (59). Other new shows on the Delhi list are Shree 420 (75) and Baazi Kiski (83). If Delhi were to be taken as generally representative of the north then the number of Zee shows in the Top 100 (20) in the Delhi list appears to indicate that Zee has a much higher viewership in the north.
Another point to note is that the show Zee broadcasting CEO Sandeep Goyal had hoped would be the channel’s driver – Aap Jo Bolein Haan to Haan, Aap JO Bolein Naa to Naa – is yet to open its account on the ratings chart.
Meanwhile, as a result of the fallout of the leak of the people meters lists in Mumbai and Chennai two weeks ago, both TAM Media, which releases the TAM ratings lists, and ORG Marg (INTAM lists) are in the process of completely revamping their panels.
While INTAM’s Gautam Mitra calculates that the process will take five weeks or so TAM Media president LV Krishnan refused to set a time frame for the clean-up process other than to say it was being carried out in all urgency.
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.
