News Broadcasting
Star News rides the waves to top of the news pack
MUMBAI: Mumbai deluge (26 July), which brought Media Content & Communication Services (MCCS), the company that broadcasts Star News in the limelight of ratings and still basking in the glory.
With Hindi news space witnessing a lot of action on the ratings sphere, Star News is riding on a high rating – an outcome; “Quality content! It has been a gradual process, which has resulted in a good show for our Star News. It is also brings out the fact that with no calamity whatsoever, the channel has thrown an impressive ratings,” says Star News CEO Uday Shankar Tam data for the week 39 (18 – 24 September) indicates that Star News has managed to hook eight of the top 10 programmes spots across all Hindi news channels.
Crime based show – Sansani chalked up 1.5 TVRs, Desh Videsh picked up 0.82 TVRs, National Reporter posted 0.79 TVRs, Khabar Filmi Hai attains 0.6TVRs and Red Alert garnered 0.7 TVRs giving the channel share of number one spot with 25 per cent market share in the CS 15+ and CS 4+ categories across Hindi speaking markets (HSM).
Amongst the top 10 shows, Zee News’ Kal Kapal Maha Kal gained the fourth spot with 0.83 TVRs and with Aaj Tak’s Aaj Tak Metro holding the nine place with 0.48 TVRs.
In the C&S 4 +market, the leader, sabse tez – – Aaj Tak has been pushed to the second spot in the week 39 with a market share of 23 per cent. Following, Zee News at 16 per cent and NDTV India at 14 per cent are lagging behind, quoting the Tam data for the week 39.
The above ratings scenario has been mirroed by the above mentioned news channels in the all India C&S 15+ market.
A viewer has consumed 40 minutes of Star News during the week 39 in comparison 30 minutes of Aaj Tak. While, time spends on Zee News and NDTV India have been 27 minutes and 22 minutes respectively.
Aapko Rakhe Aagey – Shankar offers that the channel has been different in terms of quality and showing full justifies to the Star News philosophy, it will continue to deleiver news which are people-orietned.
Over the week, there has been an increase, which has reflected. Being different from the herd of news channels, the attempt has been and would be, says he.
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.
