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NDS deploys solutions for Liberty Global’s cable operation in Netherlands
MUMBAI: NDS, now part of Cisco, has announced at the television technology trade event IBC in Amsterdam, has deployed its solutions for Liberty Global‘s cable operation UPC in the Netherlands.
This is part of the deployment of NDS solutions for Liberty‘s Global Horizon platform, NDS said at the television technology trade event IBC in Amsterdam.
As the first deployment of its kind, Liberty Global‘s Horizon platform brings together leading partners from across the industry to enable a next-generation multimedia experience, providing innovative new functionality and services for its subscribers.
NDS said its technologies provide the core enabling framework for the newly launched platform. Managed by the NDS Unified Headend, the new platform enables delivery of content and services to multiple devices in and out of the home, all with a unified look and feel and leading functionality tailored to the device.
To enable advanced functionality within the home, NDS‘ MediaHighway middleware resides in both the multimedia gateway device and set-top boxes (STBs). As the primary software component, MediaHighway provides the underpinning for services such as recommendations, personalisation and an advanced, multiplatform user interface from NDS .
Liberty Global executive VP, CTO Balan Nair said, “We are delighted to be announcing the launch of the Horizon platform. Over the course of this project, we have worked with some outstanding partners to achieve an industry first, and through the provision of the key technologies and solutions for Horizon, NDS have been instrumental in enabling us to provide such an exceptional user experience for our subscribers.”
NDS VP, GM Europe, Middle East and Africa Yves Padrines said, “The Horizon platform has catalysed industry development of next generation technologies, and as the first deployment of its kind, we are extremely excited to be a part of this innovative. initiative. We look forward to continuing to support Liberty Global as it revolutionises the way millions of people enjoy content.”
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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.
