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Buena Vista Intl TV concludes VoD deal with a Korean broadcaster
MUMBAI:Buena Vista International Television–Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP), the international television distribution arm of Disney has concluded a multi-year agreement with Korean pay-per-view (PPV) and video-on-demand (VoD) operator CGV Choice, a subsidiary of CJ Media. The deal is for current and library features from BVITV-AP’s features portfolio. BVITV-AP is the first US studio to deliver Hollywood movies on CGV Choice’s VOD platform. This agreement is in line with Disney‘s focus on the application of technology to enhance its content and expand its distribution to deliver it anytime, anywhere. |
Under this licensing agreement, subscribers to CGV Choice are able to enjoy films like The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl, Flightplan, National Treasure and Casanova. BVITV-AP’s senior VP, MD Steve Macallister says, “We are pleased to be the first U.S. studio to be delivering hit Hollywood blockbusters on-demand to CGV Choice’s pay-per-view and VOD subscribers. This is another groundbreaking new media deal for BVITV in Korea and reflects our commitment to finding new and innovative ways to deliver our quality content whenever consumers want it.” |
CJ Media executive VP Richard Shim says, “We are thrilled to have BVITV-AP as an important partner of our service. CGV Choice is Korea’s premier PPV and VOD operator and service brand of CJ Media. “At present, Korea‘s Cable TV market is fast developing its digital convergence, and VOD stands to lead in new media. We look forward to providing our VOD subscribers with BVITV-AP’s high quality Hollywood blockbusters that will position us as the leader in this exciting new media space.” |
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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.
