News Broadcasting
Metro Nation: NDTV corners English city-based news space
NEW DELHI: NDTV today moved into a niche space – an English metro-based channel that is locally focussed in both its content and revenue model.Metro Nation Delhi is the first of the five FTA channels it plans to roll out.
Metro Nation Delhi, which NDTV claims is the the first English, city-based channel in the country, has been on air since 24 September.
Announcing this, Dr Prannoy Roy, chairman, NDTV Ltd, said that this would complement the English newspapers and cater to a so far unaddressed TV viewership of five million.
The value for the money invested is clear: Delhi has a retail and local advertisement kitty that runs into millions of rupees, and has been so far tapped by only small local vernacular newspapers.
Roy said the company‘s research shows that this is a market of sophisticated retailers and other advertisers – from malls to eateries and entertainment hubs that would willingly pay a steep tariff if they can reach out to this TV viewership market.
This is not a ‘pure‘ news channel, Roy explained, but both news and non-news channel that would provide information and localised content, which includes the likes of live shows of college debates (with the one from Miranda College already aired).
Sanjay Nigam, CEO in charge of the channel, said this would be news you can use, which includes road traffic updates, as well as everything that a denizen of Delhi would need to know to be abreast of what‘s around.
NDTV has clearly also sought to take a pinch from the Citizen Journalist concept, but made it radically different, in that colourful taxis, a fully operational studio (OB Van) and a dedicated chopper would feed in news.
The taxis and the bus would move from area to area and bring in local people, take their views and air them Live, Suparna Singh, head of promos and editorial chief at the new channel explained.
Asked whether this is their version of Citizen Journalist, Roy took a snap at rival channel CNN IBN: “This is different, because journalism is a professional thing and just as there cannot be a citizen doctor or a citizen engineer, we are not looking at a citizen journalist.
“We believe that this will make the channel interactive, though the citizen may not be able to talk to the anchor, but his or her views can be aired directly.”
Singh stated another of the USPs of the channel: “We believe Delhi is worth fighting for,” and explained that the channel will be young, progressive and proactive, and would take up all the problems of the city and fight for the citizen‘s rights.
Asked to how far NDTV would take such fights, Roy stated that the fights about governance would be deadly serious and would be taken to the end.
“The channel is being driven by young people with ‘kinetic energy‘,” Singh said, adding that there are 125 people on board.
But there are similar channels in Hindi which have the same formula, so would language be the only differentiator?
Responding to this, Nigam said that the NDTV foray into this arena would be marked by its old track record of credibility and reliability, dismissing the vernacular channels as overtly sensationalised and hardly credible.
In fact, Nigam said that when there is a stress on globalisation, this move towards localisation may seem like an anachronism, but it was not, as today, Delhi is almost like a country.
“The people need info that will navigate the lives of Delhiites,” Nigam said, which would be the “unique value proposition” for the channel.
There are many, many Delhis today, and the days of South Delhi ending in Lajpat Nagar are over, and there are many categories of people not from all walks of life but all regions and many countries who need to stay abreast of this city.
This is the specific market the NDTV plans to corner and not just in Delhi; in another few months, there would be four more channels, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, each with its niche programming and sharp local focus.
Roy parried all questions on financial issues, but insisted that there is enough monetary depth in this market to give them a clear sense of fast-track business.
This is why, at least officially, Metro Nation channel would not slash its advertisement tariff, but would offer competitive prices, Roy said and claimed that already there are people wanting to come on board.
While the channel would be FTA, Roy admitted that it would go on one of the DTH service providers, but refused to divulge the name, stating simply: “We have a commitment on DTH.”
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.
