News Broadcasting
Vissa TV banks on grounds events, movie acquisition to raise channel share
MUMBAI: Regional channel Vissa TV has finally zeroed on an action plan to better its performance in the Telugu television arena.
The Telugu channel from Raj Television Network Limited will be introducing more shows based on ground events and giving a complete make over to its film programming to shed the ‘underdog image’ it had been carrying ever since its launch in June 2003.
According to the latest channel share figures released by TAM (Andhra Pradesh 1 mn + towns including Hyderabad, 23 May to 19 June) Vissa TV holds a modest 2 per cent share.
Talking to Indiantelevision.com, Vissa TV vice president R Radhakrishnan explained the reasons why the channel had been faring poorly: “Basically we are new entrants in the Andhra Pradesh television arena and we have been facing fierce competition. Taking into account the Telugu’s craze for films, we have this handicap called ‘fresh movies’. The older channels hold the chunk of popular movies”
Radhakrishnan revealed that Vissa had adopted an aggressive movie acquisition strategy and would be looking to acquire the maximum number of new films available this year.
Talking about the extra measures taken by Vissa to tap the maximum audience share from the film-crazy viewer segment, Radhakrishnan said the channel had started telecasting Telugu feature films on weekday afternoons and on Friday nights.
Radhakrishnan said the channel would be launching as many as five new shows in the next three months, which include two ground event based shows.
“We are planning a fashion show during the first week of August, followed by a model hunt in September 2004 across seven to eight major towns in Andhra Pradesh.”
The channel has also bagged exclusive telecast rights of the South Indian Filmfare awards for an estimated Rs 5 million. The show will air on 11 July. The live event was held on 12 June.
Vissa TV will launch a daily show for women in August targeting the afternoon band. Two interactive programmes are also being lined up for an immediate launch.
Commenting on Vissa TV’s progress with the launch of its news channel Vissa News, Radhakrishnan said they were in the process of setting up infrastructure and the launch would take place during early 2005.
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.
