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Sony BMG in deal with MobiTV
MUMBAI: Sony BMG and MobiTV, a platform for content delivery over mobile and broadband networks, have entered into an agreement. Sony BMG would add more than 2,500 music videos to the MobiTV service in the US. MobiTV will put the videos into rotation immediately on their existing, branded music channels, giving fans access to a library of 7,000+ music videos through their mobile service. The two parties will also collaborate on the creation of a series of customised channels featuring original video programming. The content will range from long-form concerts to genre and artist-driven shows and series, some of which will be available for an additional fee. In many cases the programming will be conceived and created by the artists themselves. The first of such initiatives, created in collaboration with RCA Records artist Avril Lavigne, is a mobile site called Avril TV Avril TV content is available through participating US carriers via video enabled phones, with a limited content package available to Wap enabled phone users. Other content related to Avril Lavigne, including her biography, a photo gallery, and links to buy ringtones, ring back tones, screensavers and more are also available. CBS Television Network will be the first to sponsor this fully ad supported site. Avril fans can now get access to Avril TV by simply going to the Avril TV WAP site on their cell phones. The link to the Wap site is available through Avril‘s website, MySpace page and distributed to her fan-base via SMS and email blast. Sony BMG president, global digital business and US sales Thomas Hesse says, “We‘re delighted to be working with MobiTV as we continue to build our presence in the mobile space. We look forward to working closely with them as we explore a wide range of innovative programming concepts.” MobiTV executive producer of music television Nancy Levin says, “MobiTV is the only mobile television service in the industry that has the rights to stream full-length music videos from three major music groups. “MobiTV continues to prove itself as the dominant player in mobile television by opening doors for top labels and artists; giving their content an extended reach across entertainment platforms of the future.” Today, MobiTV‘s US mobile and broadband subscribers can access music videos from music labels, bundled throughout seven branded channels and categorised by genres including hip-hop, pop, rap, rock, country, Latin and alternative. In contrast to other mobile offerings that require a user to purchase access to each video, MobiTV subscribers have unlimited access to music videos for no extra charge beyond the monthly subscription fee.
(http://www.mobitv.com/avril). The site is designed to provide access to all things Avril, including her entire video library and made-for-mobile versions of Avril‘s Make 5 Wishes comic book released along with her album.
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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.
