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NDS partners with Changhong in China for STBs
MUMBAI: NDS has partnered with Changhong, a set-top box (STB) and consumer electronics manufacturer, to develop a range of interactive applications for the Chinese cable market.
NDS will also play a role in marketing the resulting applications to other global geographies as part of a drive to increase export opportunities for Chinese CE and STB manufacturers.
Based on its technological and market advantages, Changhong will join the NDS MediaHighway STB software developer community in China to develop applications for the digital-TV market. The two companies will work together to develop two-way services for Next Generation Broadcast (NGB) platforms, focusing on applications that provide public information and enhance the viewing experience while offering new advertising opportunities such as interactive ads.
NGB is changing the way viewers watch TV in China, by offering subscribers a broad selection of content and adding interactive services. It allows subscribers to customise the service and view content on a variety of different devices, including portable mobile devices. NDS MediaHighway supports NGB initiatives by offering advanced services for SD and HD including EPGs, DVR, VOD and interactive applications across broadcast and hybrid platforms.
Sichuan Changhong Network Technologies vice GM Jia Huidong says, “This agreement between NDS and Changhong marks a strategically important partnership between two industry leaders with a reputation for innovation and quality.”
NDS Asia Pacific senior VP, GM Sue Taylor says, “NDS supports the government’s initiatives by providing tailor-made solutions for NGB and Three Network Convergence, while forging stronger links with local vendors to jointly develop solutions for the Chinese market. We have increased our team in China by 73 per cent in the last year, and we plan to triple our investment over the next year. NDS’ growing R&D centre in Shenzhen puts us in a strong position to partner with Chinese CE and STB manufacturers and play a key role in helping them to increase export revenues.”
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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.
