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DirecTV mulls films on platform a month after theatrical debut
MUMBAI: DirecTV has decided to offer films on its platform a month after their theatrical release. Previously it used to take three months for films to be beamed into the living room after their theatrical debut.
The pay-TV service had said last week that it was talking with studios about video-on-demand offerings within the earlier window.
The initial price being discussed is $30 for a one-night rental, it is understood. It is in advanced talks with Hollywood’s studios to be their first partner for early video-on-demand.
In a conference call DirecTV Chief Executive Michael White is reported to have said that his company was talking to studios about launching a ‘trial’ by the middle of the year in which “perhaps we‘ll try something that‘s four to six weeks from theatrical release.”
The plan represents a significant step in Hollywood‘s strategy to make films available at the home earlier and in new ways to generate fresh revenue as DVD sales continue to fall and domestic box office has been stagnant.
DirecTV is looking to introduce this service by the end of June with films from 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. It is said that Walt Disney Pictures is also likely to join the initiative, but Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures are not expected to participate initially.
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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.
