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MTV to expand music offerings through music gaming firm Harmonix acquisition
MUMBAI: US broadcaster MTV will acquire Harmonix Music Systems. The firm develops the PlayStation 2 product Guitar Hero and other music gaming titles. |
MTV will pay $175 million in cash. In addition, Harmonix shareholders may be eligible for incremental earn-out payments through 2008, to the extent that financial results exceed specific targets. MTV says that the acquisition demonstrates its commitment to music and With the addition of Harmonix‘s music gaming titles, MTV will enhance its music-based The announcement follows MTV Games‘ successful partnership, initiated in November 2005, to feature Harmonix‘s Guitar Hero franchise in original programming, creative promotions and competitions across a number of MTV‘s multi-platform properties. Guitar Hero, published by RedOctane/Activision, is among the top-selling PlayStation 2 games this year and has been honoured with several accolades at the Interactive Achievement Awards, Game Developer Choice Awards, and other industry events. Guitar Hero 2 is |
MTV president Christina Norman says, “The acquisition of Harmonix will deepen MTV‘s connection to its audience via on-line, mobile and console music gaming, and expand the “Harmonix‘s technology allows everyone to pursue their rock and roll fantasies, even people like me, with more musical ambition than actual talent.” Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman says, “Harmonix is a wonderful addition to Viacom‘s tremendous collection of digital assets, and is precisely the type of transaction that will help us aggressively grow our digital business while maintaining strong fiscal discipline. “We‘re committed to a swift integration and look forward to helping Harmonix MTV chairman and CEO Judy McGrath, says, “The acquisition of Harmonix advances MTV Networks‘ strategy of connecting with target audiences by creating immersive, multi-platform environments that extend to every device they use. Harmonix is an innovator in giving audiences new and dynamic ways to interact with music, and I couldn‘t be Harmonix introduced Frequency in 2001 and Amplitude in 2003. These games won numerous accolades including one of Rolling Stone‘s “Best Console Games of 2003” and IGN‘s “Reader Top 10”. The company also developed the Karaoke Revolution franchise, which turned singing into a competitive game. This title was Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos says, “We are very excited to combine our unique assets in the music and gaming space with one of the most recognised brands in the music world. We Rigopulos and other key employees will continue in their roles following the completion of the acquisition. Harmonix will join MTV |
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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.
