News Broadcasting
Times Now tweaks its look, launches four news based shows
MUMBAI:Times Now is giving a double boost to news on television by launching four new daily news based shows. The new shows; News Now Morning, Business Buzz, Live Report and The Game conform to the new look the 24-hour English general news channel has donned.
With the introduction of four new shows, the channel has evolved a new look and feel by providing more visual space. The channel, which presently runs three tickers, will reduce it to two with the revamp. The channel will showcase its anchors in a white-line bordered frame. According to Times Now CEO Sunil Lulla, “The four new shows add to the quality of information our viewers need.”
Starting 17 July, the channel has kicked off the day with a new morning breakfast show — News Now Morning. Lulla says that for a Times Now viewer, the morning news bulletin, which will be aired at 6 am, is the best way of getting ready to face the new day.
The channel maintains its agenda is to keep redefining the concept of news for their urbanite target audience. Business Buzz, which will air from 9:30 am to 12 noon and again from 3 pm to 4 pm, is aimed at giving viewers a complete picture of the day’s business news and markets. The channel will also leverage content from sister print publication and leading financial paper The Economic Times as well the global news service Reuters.
At 12 noon there is Live Report, where the channel will go live for half an hour to the story of the moment. The show’s tagline is pure news at noon.
At 7:30 pm is The Game, which as the name implies is primarily for sports fans. The Game will have cricket journalists Faisal Sharif and Dinesh Chopra pitching to provide inside stories and scoops on the country’s most popular sport.
Talking about the programming of the new shows, Times Now editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami says, “The new look and the new shows will make us pacier and even more newsy. We’ve already been acknowledged as number one in coverage of big stories. Now, we’ll also have the widest range of shows aimed at just one purpose, putting out much more news on our channel and broadcasting the news with energy and conviction, since the viewers are tired of bland or preachy news channels.”
Concludes Lulla, “In the coming weeks, the channel is likely to launch a brand campaign and we will continue to sharpen the channel as we go long.”
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.
