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NDS to deploy its advanced solutions for SCTV in China
MUMBAI: NDS, a subsidiary of Cisco, has collaborated with one of China‘s largest cable operator Sichuan Cable TV Network (SCTV) to deploy advanced functionality that will provide an enriched subscriber experience with greater flexibility for over 15 million subscribers.
SCTV will employ a number of solutions from NDS, including NDS MediaHighway set-top box middleware, XTV DVR technology, an electronic programme guide (EPG) and NDS Dynamic advanced EPG advertising. VideoGuard, the world‘s leading conditional access (CA) technology, secures SCTV‘s service to ensure revenues and provide anti-roaming protection between regional operations.
According to NDS, the deployment, which addresses 131 branches and 15 million subscribers, is one of the largest feature upgrades of its kind in China and will enable access to HD services across the entire province.
SCTV GM Guo Jianxin said, "We have been working with NDS for over a decade and are delighted with what we have achieved together – an advanced platform that truly utilises our network to get the best for the subscriber. NDS has shown strong technology and support capabilities in enabling such an exceptional user experience." He added "We look forward to NDS‘ continued support as we evolve our service."
NDS Asia Pacific VP and GM Sales said, "SCTV are taking great steps to provide their subscribers with the best possible experience across their entire network – a substantial task, and one that we are extremely proud to be working with them on in such close collaboration. With underpinning technologies from NDS, SCTV have the foundations to enable continued innovation and enhancement of their service and we are excited to support them in their next endeavour."
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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.
