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MSOs invite broadcasters to create consensual bouquets, avoid legal battles
NEW DELHI: Multi System Operators (MSOs) have initiated moves to open dialogue with broadcasters so that the non-Cas area Tariff Order can be implemented with rates worked out through mutual discussions, rather than the MSOs doing it unilaterally, leading to litigation. Broadcasters however, say they have not decided on any course of action, only hoping, seriously, that the order would be retracted sooner or later. MSOs argue that since Trai is not likely to retract or modify what is now commonly known as the ‘a la carte order,‘ and since TDSAT has insisted broadcasters not impede its implementation, the Order will come into effect from 31 December. The MSO Alliance says that after 31 December, they shall not be able to charge subscribers more than the prices capped by Trai right across the country. Therefore, the question arises: ‘Who will fix the channel prices and the prices for bouquets?‘ They say they are telling broadcasters that it is better that the latter come forward to work together and create bouquets area/region-wise, giving those channels in each area which best suits the demographic and economic pattern of the residents, Says an MSO Alliance source, “After 31 December, we shall have to do it ourselves if they do not come forward and work these out, because we shall not be able to charge a penny more than what Trai has prescribed for each area. “In that case, we shall have to work out bouquets which we feel are the best for each area, depending on their language and financial patterns, like more Gujarati channels in the bouquets for areas in Mumbai with Gujarati domination, more regional channels for other areas and so forth.” Broadcasters seem unsure as of now about their course of action. One could be moving the High Court to ask TDSAT to take a definite stand on their stay order plea, but senior broadcaster sources said that is not a good option. The decision from broadcasters, since the efforts are being made, at very senior levels, will be clear after the Christmas holidays, with just five days to go for the implementation of the Order.
Senior MSO Alliance leaders told indiantelevision.com that they have started talks with broadcasters on the issue since the middle of this week.
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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.
