News Broadcasting
TV9 Network dominates the Indiantelevision.com News Television Awards 2023
Mumbai: In a resounding recognition of its commitment to excellence in journalism, TV9 Network won a staggering 53 awards at the News Television Awards 2023, organised by Indiantelevision.com at an event on 9 December in Holiday Inn, Delhi.
The honours span no less than 15 categories and 7 languages, recognising the work of multiple broadcast channels and digital platforms by TV9 Network, including News9 Plus, The Innovation Hub, Money 9, TV9 Bharatvarsh, TV9 Bangla, TV9 Gujarati, TV9 Kannada, TV9 Marathi, TV9 Telugu and the TV9 UPUK Digital YouTube channel.
Incepted in 2007, the News Television Awards honour outstanding television news journalism across 45 unique categories in 8 different languages, rewarding “channel programmers, anchors, presenters, technicians, producers, editors, reporters and management”, as per its website.
“There is a major transformation taking place in the realm of Indian news media today. As viewers become more discerning amidst a surplus of options, TV9 Network has succeeded at disrupting the status quo, both in conventional broadcasting and in digital news formats. From pioneering the world’s first news OTT platform to delivering unparalleled coverage of current affairs through traditional television, innovation is at the centre of everything we do. Our commitment is to continually enhance the quality of content while upholding the fundamental tenets of journalistic integrity”, said TV9 Network chief growth officer Raktim Das.
Indiantelevision.com founder & CEO Anil NM Wanvari, joined the panel of jurors for this year’s event, which included esteemed personalities such as PolicyBazaar CMO Sai Narayan, Gulf Marketing head Amit Gheji and JK Tyre CMO Amit Gujral among others.
News9 Plus, India’s first news OTT platform took home 8 laurels at the event, across the ‘Programming’ and ‘Promo, Designing and Packaging’ categories, with TV9 Network MD and CEO’s ‘Duologue with Barun Das ft. Mithali Raj’ winning the award for ‘Editorial Choice – Most Cerebral Talk Show’.
TV9 Network Innovation Hub, the flagship brand solutions powerhouse, bagged 2 wins for the Set Design and Brand Partnership of its ‘Road to Safety’ campaign, which aimed to increase awareness about road safety in India.
Money9, the personal finance OTT offering by TV9 Network and the first of its kind in India, was also graced with the ‘Original Programming On OTT (Hindi)’ award, for its show Money Central.
Also winning big were the broadcast channels, with TV9 Bangla walking away with an unprecedented 12 accolades, including 3 Personality Awards, for Amritanshu Bhattacharya, Anirban Chowdhury and Suman Mahapatra.
TV9 Telugu scored a similarly impressive 11 wins, with 3 Special Awards and 4 Personality Awards given out to Deepthi Vajpeye, Rajinikanth Vellalacheruvu, G Nethravathi and Pranitha Yadav.
TV9 UPUK, the YouTube channel dedicated to quality news coverage of events in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand also emerged a big winner of the evening, with 4 Programming Awards and 2 Personality Awards, to Pankaj Tripathi and Brijesh Tiwari.
On another front, Shivani Purohit of TV9 Gujarati was also conferred with a Personality Award, bringing the total tally of honours bestowed on the channel to 6.
Meanwhile, TV9 Kannada and TV9 Marathi enjoyed great success in the Programming Categories, taking home 3 and 2 commendations respectively.
Logging one win for Programming and one Personality Award to Mahesh Kumar Tiwari, TV9 Bharatvarsh rounded out the Network’s tally for the evening, bringing the figure up to a tremendous 53.
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.
