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ABC, Warner in new digital distribution agreement
MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Disney-ABC Television Group‘s ABC Entertainment and the Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) have reached a wide-ranging agreement regarding the digital distribution of series produced by Warner Bros. Television for US broadcaster ABC for the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons.
Under the terms of the new agreement, ABC has the ability to distribute any series produced by WBTVG during the current 2011/12 and the 2012/13 seasons online via abc.com and Hulu‘s ad-supported platforms. The series will also be made available as part of ABC‘s branded video-on-demand offering available through a variety of cable, satellite and telco providers. Across these platforms, the five most recently televised episodes of each series will be available the day after their network broadcast.
Additionally, the agreement grants ABC the ability to simulcast its linear feed in all media, including as part of the network‘s authenticated product, which is currently under development.
WBTVG says that it is broadening its domestic off-network distribution rights, gaining flexibility to make series available earlier and on more platforms. WBTVG is able to offer select, highly-serialized series via SVOD platforms at the end of each broadcast season. Additionally, WBTVG has moved up the off-network syndication window so that it begins at the end of a series‘ third broadcast year. WBTVG retains in-season EST and out of season DVD and Blu-Ray rights.
Current ABC series produced by Warner Bros. Television Group include ‘The Middle‘, ‘Work It‘ and ‘Suburgatory‘.
ABC Entertainment Group executive VP, business affairs and administration Jana Winograde said, “This new agreement is a great example of our commitment to working with our production partners to find innovative solutions that allow us to offer ABC viewers access to their favorite series. Over the years, the Warner Bros. Television Group has been a tremendous partner, as both of our companies look to experiment and find new ways to build and strengthen our businesses.”
Warner Bros. Television Group executive VP Craig Hunegs said, “Our new agreement with our ABC network partners is a win all around. It makes it easier than ever for viewers to watch their favorite shows, it helps expand the ABC platform and ultimately it makes our series more valuable.”
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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.
