Applications
Tdsat directs ESS against switching off channels to Dish TV
MUMBAI: The Tdsat has granted interim relief to Dish TV in its dispute with ESPN Software India directing the sports broadcaster to keep giving signals to the direct-to-home (DTH) operator.
ESPN Software India, a subsidiary of pan-Asian sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports (ESS), runs five channels namely ESPN, Star Sports, Star Cricket, ESPN HD and Star Cricket HD.
Dish TV had filed a petition with the broadcast tribunal against the public notices issued by the ESS on 5 and 12 November for disconnection of signals to its subscribers.
The notice was issued on the grounds of non-signing of the agreement, breach of regulations including reporting requirements and non-payment of subscriptions fees.
The Tdsat member P.K. Rastogi ruled that ESS will not give effect to its public notices till further hearing in the matter.
The tribunal also directed Dish TV to allow ESS to conduct audit in terms which the latter should complete in two weeks by providing full co-operation.
It also told Dish TV to produce all the relevant records before the representatives of ESS in conducting the audit including the manner in which it is maintaining ‘India Cricket Pack‘.
"Based on the audit report, both the parties will meet and reconcile their accounts," Rastogi stated in his order.
Dish TV‘s senior counsel Maninder Singh contended that ESS did not issue notice under clause 4.1 of the inter-connect agreement which is necessary to give effect to the public notice, a fact that was not disputed by the broadcaster.
However, Mukul Rohatgi appearing on behalf of ESS contested the argument by saying that it was not necessary to issue notice 4.1 before disconnection.
The tribunal, however, held that a notice under 4.1 is essential in this matter since there was a written agreement in place which expired due to efflux of time.
Tdsat had passed an order on 10 April directing the two parties to reconcile the amount that ESS needs to refund on the basis of SMS reports.
However, Dish TV based on its own record determined that ESS was required to refund Rs 196.8 million till September and started adjusting the same from subscription fee payable to ESS.
The broadcaster contended that unless it was allowed to audit the SMS system of the DTH operator it would be difficult to determine the exact amount to be refunded.
Another bone of contention between the parties is the India Cricket Pack introduced by Dish TV which according to ESS is causing revenue loss since the subscriber numbers cannot be recorded as these packs are available only when India cricket is available on the channel and gets disconnected after the event ends.
To this, Singh said that the pack is available on a monthly basis and not only for days when India was playing cricket as alleged by the respondent.
While stating that it was ready to sign a deal based on RIO, Dish TV said it can‘t share the names of subscriber as the regulation doesn‘t mandate it and is against its commercial interest. It has also agreed to provide audit of its SMS system.
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
