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One in ten London household not ready for digital switchover
MUMBAI: More than a million TV sets risk going blank when the London region goes digital in a week‘s time, Digital UK has warned.
With just seven days remaining until analogue TV starts being turned off, more than one in ten households still have a television relying on the old signal – accounting for more than a million TVs in the region.
However, the vast majority are now prepared for digital switchover, which is set to be the biggest change to television in the UK capital for a generation.
Analogue BBC Two will close across the London region on 4 April, followed by all remaining analogue channels on 18 April. Viewers must ensure all their TVs can receive either Freeview, cable or satellite channels, and Freeview viewers need to retune their equipment on both dates.
As part of the change, Freeview coverage will be boosted to reach more than 400,000 viewers who cannot receive it now, putting an end to digital blackspots across the region.
Digital UK, the body in charge of the process, is launching the final stage of an information campaign to ensure people are aware of the change, including large warning messages broadcast on analogue TV channels. The body is also offering face-to-face advice through local roadshows and advice points next week.
Digital UK London Manager Deborah Bain said, “We know from elsewhere in the country that some people leave it very late to prepare for switchover. Almost any set can be converted to digital, even black and white ones, so now is the time to get ready. Most people will find the process straightforward, but some may need a bit of extra help, so we will provide advice and assistance throughout the switchover period.”
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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.
