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BBC Radio launches new digital radio transmitter
MUMBAI: BBC Radio has announced the launch of a new national digital radio transmitter in Wrotham, Kent.
The new transmitter will be a key part in the transmission network for London and the South East. It adds around 133,000 people to the coverage of the network and improves coverage for some 7.6 million people across the whole of London, north Kent and Surrey.
Digital radio listeners can now tune in to the BBC‘s portfolio of digital-only stations – 1Xtra, 5 Live Sports Extra, 6 Music, Radio 7 and the Asian Network – as well as the BBC‘s existing national radio stations – Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 5 Live and the World Service – and enjoy the benefits of digital audio broadcasting (DAB).
BBC Audio and Music controller, multiplatform and interactive Mark Friend said, “The BBC is committed to broadening the availability of digital radio and we are delighted to further expand and improve coverage in the South East and London. We hope more listeners will discover the range of programmes offered over DAB including ball-by-ball commentary of The Ashes on 5 Live Sports Extra and some great festive highlights on Radio 7, 1Xtra and 6 Music over Christmas.”
The BBC is investing in the DAB network and fulfilling its commitment to reach around 92 per cent of the UK population by the end of next year.
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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.
