News Broadcasting
TV18 standalone Q3 net profit at Rs 120 mn
MUMBAI: Television18, the company that houses business news channels CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, has posted a better third-quarter result due to an upswing in revenues.
For the three months ended December, TV18 has posted a standalone net profit (after tax and minority interest, before ESOP charge out) of Rs 120 million compared to a net loss of Rs 150 million in the previous year quarter. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 90 million in the trailing quarter.
Revenue from news operations at Rs 790 million stands 17.91 per cent higher than the year-ago period. For the trailing quarter, TV18‘s standalone revenue was at Rs 680 million.
Operating expenses for the quarter stood at Rs 560 million (from Rs 510 million a year ago). However, it is much higher than the trailing quarter, which was at Rs 470 million.
Meanwhile, TV18 improved its operating margins to 29 per cent from prior year’s 25 per cent.
On a consolidated basis, TV18, which also includes financials of Web18,
Infomedia18 and Newswire18, has posted a net profit (after tax and minority interest, before ESOP charge out) of Rs 80 million. For the same quarter of the previous year, the net loss stood at Rs 400 million.
Revenue from consolidated operations went up to Rs 1.47 billion as compared to Rs 1.29 billion a year ago. Expenses stood at Rs 1.27 billion, from Rs 1.20 billion in the earlier year.
Meanwhile, Web18, the subsidiary that houses all the websites of the group, has seen operational breakeven in the quarter under review. The revenue from operations grew to Rs 220 million, while expenses also remained at 220 million.
In Infomedia18, the net loss for the quarter stood at Rs 70 million, down from Rs 90 million in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal.
Revenue jumped to Rs 360 million (from Rs 330 million), while expenses stood at Rs 410 million, from Rs 380 million a year ago.
In Newswire18, revenue rose to Rs 100 million, from Rs 80 million a year ago. The company did not disclose net profit (or loss) of the segment. The expenses were at Rs 90 million while operating profit was at Rs 20 million.
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.
