News Broadcasting
Survival mantra for news channels – innovate or perish
MUMBAI: Innovation is what news channels have to look for to survive in a cluttered space..
Speaking today at the second of a series of interactions between the television industry and media, TAM Media Research VP Atul Phadnis stated, “There were as many as 11 news channels in 2002 and at present we have 24 news channels.”
He added that the viewership has grown in the news channel genre, which has seen 74 per cent growth in 2004 from a minuscule percentage in 2002.
Dwelling on television advertisements Phadnis said, “The Aaj Tak strategy of roping in low cost advertisers in volume saw the appearance of small time advertisers on the small screen.”
Radio Today chief operating officer Abraham Thomas stressed on the importance of the ad sales, marketing and deliver teams jointly working on how to deliver focussed content, which could facilitate the generation of advertising.
Abraham was quick to point out that it was essential also to know and delineate the boundaries of such activity as editorial credibility was one commodity that should not be compromised on.
Radio Today manages FM Radio stations in various cities under the Red FM Brand.
Citing an example of how news channels have been experimenting with innovations to offer news in an entertaining way without compromising on news value, Abraham pointed to NDTV India’s using Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee in characters as Bunty and Bubbly from their latest movie Bunty Aur Bubbly presenting serious news. This, he said was innovative and entertaining. What would not have been acceptable, according to him, was if what the two read out was not actual news.
Here, the entertainment has been delivered, but the level of serious news has been maintained, Abraham explained.
Moving beyond simple commercials or promos, cross-promotional activities endorsed by the movie Bunty Aur Bubbly should be promoted without denting the news value, the panelists said.
News channels would witness increasingly stiff competition, but the higher standard of journalism should be maintained. The channels should move beyond superficial reportage and more of in-depth analysis should happen, Abraham averred.
Responding to the criticism that in the race to break the news first, channels were often guilty of getting their facts wrong, Media Content and Communications Services India Pvt. Ltd. (managers of Star News and Star Ananda) CEO Uday Shankar, accepted that was an issue that all were grappling with.
The way forward, according to Shankar: “To survive amongst the 24 odd news channels, it is essential for a channel to seek out its own identity and carve out its niche within the given space.” That should character of the channel should be reflected not just in what editorial direction a channel takes but also in the way it presents its news, he added.
He stressed on “innovation as being crucial” to compete in the whole genre.
Some of the other points made during the discussuion were following :
+ Counting day of the Lok Sabha election ate into 30 per cent of the general entertainment channels
+ Shock value is what viewers look for
+ Anchors are faces of a channel but driven by the brand
+ When known anchors leaves the organisation the face suffers more than the brand
+ Crime shows beamed at prime time across news channels garner more viewers
+ Brands however uncomfortable advertising on crime shows
+ News magazines have seen a dip in readership: 86 million in 2002 to 69 million in 05
+ Lack of innovation within the news magazines
+ Niche magazines like auto magazines are flourishing
This was the second of the Blink knowledge series titled “Impact of News channels on the print media” organised by Tam Media Research and Press Club, Mumbai. The third session will be on Regulation of TV content and will be held next Friday, 17 May.
The first of the Blink knowledge series was held last Friday and covered pros and cons of direct-to-home (DTH) services in a country like India.
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.
