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Coalition formed in US to support digital broadcasting in public policy
MUMBAI: An array of organisations in the US have joined to officially launch The Future of TV Coalition with the goal of supporting and promoting digital broadcasting in public policy.
The alliance brings together constituencies that rely on broadcast television services, including elected local officials, programming distributors, electronic equipment manufacturers and multicast networks.
The Coalition’s mission statement reads, “The Coalition supports the evolution of broadcast television and its integration with other technologies and across many platforms. Our members work together to advance public policy initiatives that allow broadcasters to continue to rigorously innovate and invest to better serve consumers”
Facilitated by the National Association of Broadcasters, the Coalition unites organisations that have expressed concern that legislative and regulatory initiatives currently under discussion in Washington could jeopardise the future of over-the-air broadcasting.
In addition to promoting local broadcasters’ ability to reach all members of their communities, Coalition members promote policies that preserve viewer access to new initiatives made possible by the analogue-to-digital transition. Completed two years ago, the DTV transition has enabled broadcasters to offer new services such as high-definition programming, digital multicast channels and mobile DTV.
Nab president, CEO Gordon Smith said, “Broadcasters are just now unveiling the new innovative services made possible by the DTV transition, which has enabled the promotion of more community voices on local television. The members of this coalition understand the importance and benefit of preserving this expansion of consumer choice on television. We look forward to working with the Coalition to help policymakers understand the enduring value of broadcasting and ensuring that our best and brightest days are still ahead.”
The members of the Coalition are: Antennas Direct, Bounce TV, The Center for Asian American Media, County Executives of America, The Country Network, Digitenna, DLT Entertainment Limited, LATV Networks and American Latino Syndication, Luken Communications, MHz Networks, Native American Public Telecommunications, New York Television Festival, Open Mobile Video Coalition, Pacific Islanders in
Communications, Qubo, This TV and Vme Media.
“The Coalition represents a broad range of interests invested in strengthening broadcasters’ ability to deliver high-quality local news, weather, sports and emergency information. We anticipate the organization will grow considerably over time as broadcasting evolves onto new mobile platforms and local TV stations continue to expand programming choices,” added Smith.
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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.
