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DirecTV extends contract with NDS for STB software, DVR solutions
MUMBAI: NDS has renewed its agreement with US pay TV service provider DirecTV to continue to deliver set-top box (STB) software and digital video recorder (DVR) technology to DirecTV US and DirectTV Latin America through January 2016.
DirecTV executive VP, engineering and CTO Rômulo Pontual said, “DirecTV and NDS have a strong history in pioneering the best in consumer television services. I am very confident that with the extension of this partnership, DirecTV will have the tools needed to deliver comprehensive solutions, so that our customers can enjoy the next exciting generation of entertainment.”
The contract sees the extension of the relationship between NDS and DirecTV to supply set-top box software across the platform, originally established in 2005. NDS continues to provide other core technologies to the operator including conditional access.
NDS COO Raffi Kesten said, “DirecTV has long demonstrated its commitment to delivering the very latest in advanced TV and DVR services. We share a common goal to satisfy consumer appetite for next generation TV experiences while supporting the long term business goals of the pay-TV operator.”
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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.
