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Cartoon Network to roll out first regional HD kids’ channel in Asia
MUMBAI: Kids‘ entertainment channel Cartoon Network has announced its new dedicated HD channel, the first amongst kids‘ broadcasters in the region.
Rolling out initially in South East Asia from January 2012, Cartoon Network HD will offer TV viewing experience in native HD that includes a line up of the channel‘s best original and acquired content. This includes the series ‘The Amazing World of Gumball‘, ‘Ben 10‘, ‘Chowder‘ and perennial favourites ‘Scooby Doo‘ and ‘Looney Tunes‘.
Cartoon Network‘s move into the HD arena coincides with its recent regional brand refresh and the debut of its new tagline, “It‘s a Fun Thing”, designed to reflect the multidimensional aspects of kids‘ lives today.
Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific senior VP, GM Sunny Saha said, “Kids across Asia are increasingly sophisticated in their media consumption habits and Cartoon Network HD is set to become the benchmark for the TV viewing experience. HD opens up a crisper and more vivid world of animation that‘s truly captivating”.
The HD roll out also presents an opportunity for cable operators across Asia. “Cartoon Network HD will help support a new audience segment focused on families, presenting a significant subscription marketing opportunity. The launch marks the first time that a kids‘ channel will be included as part of an HD subscription package,” added Saha.
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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.
