Applications
France 24 expands distribution in key markets
MUMBAI: International news network France 24 has concluded a series of new distribution agreements, allowing the channel to strengthen its worldwide distribution in Denmark, Burma, Singapore, Thailand and Australia.
In Denmark, the French and the Arabic versions of France 24 have joined the English version on the Digital terrestrial network (DTT) operated by Open Channel in Copenhagen. This new agreement allows France 24 to be available in three languages to 700,000 households throughout the Danish capital city.
In Burma, France 24 English version has just launched on the new IPTV network Skynet (channel 45), allowing the channel to be available to 50 000 subscribers across the country.
The news broadcaster has also signed an agreement with Telkom Vision in Indonesia which will ensure France 24 English version‘s availability on the operator‘s cable, IPTV and DTH offers. France 24 is now accessible to an additional 100,000 subscribers in major Indonesian cities, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Denpasar.
France 24 has extended its agreement with Singtel, the largest telecommunications company in Singapore, allowing its English version to be available on the operator mobile offer to 90 000 subscribers (Mobile TV subscribers).
In Thailand, France 24 is now available on major IPTV operator ME TV. France 24 English version is now available 24/7 in the basic offer, while the French version will be available "?-la-carte" for 220 Bahts (5,5 Euros) per month.
In Australia, France 24 has partnered with SBS, allowing its English version to be broadcast 30mn per day at 3pm on SBS ONE. This 30-minute news segment is also available for free on the Australian network website.
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.
