News Broadcasting
ZMCL reports more than quadruple profit for second quarter
BENGALURU: The Essel group’s television news broadcasting arm Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) reported a 355.1 per cent growth (more than four-fold) in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) for the period ended 30 September 2018 (Q2 2019, quarter or period under review) as compared (year-on-year comparison, y-o-y) to the corresponding year ago quarter (Q2 2018, year ago quarter). PAT in Q2 2019 was Rs 17.25 crore as compared to Rs 3.79 crore in Q2 2018. ZMCL reported operating EBITDA at Rs 40.5 crore in Q2 2019, which was 355.1 per cent more than the Rs 3.79 crore in Q2 2018.
The company’s consolidated operating revenue increased 35.5 per cent y-o-y in Q2 2019 at Rs 168.66 crore as compared to Rs 124.51 crore in the year ago quarter. Total income increased 34.7 per cent y-o-y in Q2 2019 to Rs 170.66 crore from Rs 126.71 crore in Q2 2018.
In its earnings release ZMCL reported 34.5 per cent y-o-y growth in advertising revenue for Q 2019 at Rs 149.43 crore from Rs 111.10 crore. Subscription revenue increased 11.8 per cent y-o-y to Rs 13.1 crore in Q2 2019 from Rs 10.73 crore. Other sales and services also almost quadrupled (increased by 3.6 times) in Q2 2019 to Rs 6.11 crore from Rs 1.68 core in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Let us look at the other numbers reported by ZMCL
ZMCL’s total expenditure in Q2 2019 increased 31.2 per cent y-o-y to Rs 144.78 crore from Rs 110.37 crore. Employee benefits expense in the quarter under review increased 20.3 per cent y-o-y to Rs 37.36 crore from Rs 31.06 crore in Q2 2018. The company’s marketing promotion and distribution expenses in Q2 2019 increased 47.7 per cent to Rs 23.03 crore from Rs 15.59 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Operating costs in Q2 2019 increased 25.9 per cent to Rs 24.49 crore from Rs 19.45 crore. Other expenses in Q2 2019 increased 35.5 per cent to Rs 42.91 crore from Rs 31.66 crore in Q2 2018.
It may be noted that ZMCL has sold its entire equity stake in Ez-Mall Online to a related party at an aggregate consideration of Rs 8.60 crore. Accordingly, Ez-Mall Online ceased to be a subsidiary of ZMCL with effect from 30 June 2018 and gain on disposal of investments of approximately Rs 41.21 crore has been recognised during the previous quarter and shown as exceptional items. Also, during the previous quarter, ZMCL completed acquisition of balance 40 per cent equity stake in its subsidiary Zee Akaash News Private Ltd (ZANPL). Accordingly, ZANPL became a wholly owned subsidiary of the company with effect from 1 June, 2018 and figures for the current quarter are not comparable with previous periods presented in the consolidated financial results says the company.
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.
