Applications
MSO Alliance to implead broadcasters in a la carte case: Tdsat
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) has asked the MSO Alliance to file an application and implead the broadcasters in the case, which at the moment is against regulator Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) alone. The tribunal was hearing the MSO Alliance case of seeking feed from broadcasters on an a la carte rather than a bouquet basis
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At a point in the hearing today, the court suddenly seemed annoyed with the demand from MSO Alliance, asking why it should be given a permission of getting channels a la carte, when Trai has laid down in its order that the channels would be given by broadcasters in bouquets. Tdsat asked the Alliance counsel what is MSO Alliance and who are the constituents, and were told that it is a registered body of “most of the major MSOs.” The court wanted to know what would happen if the MSOs under the aegis of the Alliance are given the choice of a la carte and other MSOs want their similar discriminatory provisions for receiving channels. However, the Alliance counsel explained that it was not their case that there should be no bouquets. |
Admitting that there could be so many other MSOs with their own schemes of things, however, Alliance stated that while it welcomed the provision for bouquets as such, their prayer is that along with that, MSOs be allowed also to receive channels on an a la carte basis. The court asked at this point whether the broadcasters are a party to the case, and were told they are not. The court thus asked the MSO Alliance to file an application impleading the broadcasters, so that their position too could be ascertained. The case has been adjourned for hearing on 25 May. |
Applications
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.
