Applications
Radio players place bulk order for transmitters
MUMBAI: The second wave of FM privatization will see Sun TV and four other private broadcasters launching their FM channels. In preparation for this Sun and the other private broadcasters planning to launch 57 frequencies ordered new transmitters from Broadcast Electronics (BE) in the past month. These orders are in addition to the BE FM transmitters previously ordered as a result of privatization, which will eventually bring new FM licenses to 90 markets in India.A total of 70 BE transmission systems have been ordered by private FM broadcasters so far, putting BE in the lead according to Technomedia Solutions managing director P.S. Sundaram which represents Broadcast Electronics in India. BE is a turnkey provider of RF and studio systems and provides local, ongoing service for complete transmitter sites. |
Of the 57 BE transmitter systems ordered in the past month Sun TV ordered 38 BE FM systems for its Kal Radio Ltd and South Asia Ltd operations. Sri Puran Ltd ordered eight BE transmitter systems, Malar Publications Ltd ordered six, Malayala Manorama ordered four and Purvy Ltd ordered one BE transmitter system.These recent orders are in addition to the nine BE FM systems ordered by Entertainment Network India Limited (ENIL) for its Radio Mirchi brand, which broadcast the first private FM signals in April 2006 using BE transmitters. Kal Radio Ltd and South Asia Ltd, part of Sun TV, also set up BE transmitters in three centers and went on-air in Nov 2006. Malar Publications Ltd launched an FM service at Chennai, Hello FM, with a BE transmitter. |
‘Privatization of the FM band is going to have a wide-reaching impact on the people of India, and we‘re obviously very honored that so many of these private broadcasters are putting their trust in BE products, said Broadcast Electronics Asia Pacific sales manager Frank Massa.Transmitter models vary from BE‘s ultra-efficient solid state C series to its reliable, cost-effective single-tube T series, with output powers ranging from 3 kW to 10 kW. Every BE transmitter system has an FXi digital FM exciter which is the only exciter with direct-to-channel RF generator for superior RF and audio performance. |
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.
