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Channel 4 and Disney-ABC in VoD deal
MUMBAI: Channel 4 has tied up with Disney-ABC International Television for video-on-demand (VoD) content.
As per the partnership, ABC studios‘ shows aired on Channel 4 will be available on Channel 4‘s VoD service under the title 4oD. Viewers can access programmes free of charge with adverts for a month. Each series will be supported by multiple adverts and sponsorship packages to cover on demand transmissions. This is the first time in Europe that Disney-ABC International Television has made its network series available on demand, free of charge to viewers, supported by advertising. |
The service will kick off with the second season of Ugly Betty to be followed by subsequent seasons of Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Reaper and Dirty Sexy Money. Channel 4 director of acquisitions and Film4 Jeff Ford said, “We want Channel 4 viewers to be able to see our shows in a format, time and platform to suit them and to make the process as simple as possible. This deal means that viewers can now catch up on some of their favourite US shows, alongside home grown product, free of charge at a time convenient to them which can only be good news.” |
Disney-ABC International Television senior vice president sales Jim Brehm said, “We‘re committed to working with partners who have strong brands in the digital space, like Channel 4, to enhance consumers‘ viewing experience of our content, and expand its distribution. Building on this partnership, we‘re pleased to bring these series to UK viewers in a free, ad-supported model for the first time, allowing them to enjoy these much talked-about shows whenever, wherever and however they wish.” |
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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.
