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Ericsson in 3D deal with ESPN
MUMBAI: Ericsson is providing ESPN 3D, a 3D sports television network, with complete standards based video processing solution, featuring encoders and receivers tuned for ESPN 3D broadcasts as well as for high quality HD.
ESPN is deploying a variety of Ericsson 3D and HD products including the complete solution for direct-to-home and contribution and distribution of 3D content launched at NAB this week.
At the same time, ESPN will transmit HD programming to viewers worldwide in 2D using Ericsson’s MPEG-4 AVC HD 4:2:2 video processing system. The solution delivers more efficient bandwidth usage while ensuring the transmissions meet ESPN’s high standards for picture quality.
Ericsson head of Solution Area TV Staffan Pehrson says, “Our consumer labs research consistently shows that high quality pictures are the number one consumer desire in today’s TV market. Having pioneered HDTV with our first to market solutions, we are well placed to provide the video processing platform for 3D, the next wave of consumer innovation. We are excited to be working with ESPN on delivering these ground breaking 3D sporting experiences”.
This year sports fans around the world will be treated to more events in 3D than ever before. From the World Cup in football, to the X Games, consumers are ready to watch their games with a 3D movie-theatre experience at home. Broadcasters, service operators and content providers will compete for viewer attention by providing coverage of live sporting and cultural events in 3D.
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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.
