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Discovery in deal with Astro for HD channel
MUMBAI: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP) and Malaysian media company Astro have announced the launch of Discovery HD World, the company’s international high definition network.
Discovery HD World will be available in Malaysia on Channel 571 as part of the Astro B.yond package and Astro’s B.yond IPTV offering.
DNAP executive VP, MD Tom Keaveny said, “Astro has been a key partner for Discovery and we’re delighted to work with them to provide our audiences in Malaysia with Discovery HD World which offers viewers a viewing experience unlike any other – the best nonfiction content shot in HD.”
Astro COO Henry Tan said, “We welcome Discovery HD World to join our existing 12 HD channels on our Astro B.yond platform. Our Astro B.yond viewers on the Learning pack will be thrilled to experience Discovery HD World’s sharp clarity and superb audio which brings images to life. Driven by content and technology, Astro is committed to provide its customers choice, value and an enriching viewing experience.”
Discovery HD World in Malaysia will feature new content that maximises the potential of high-definition technology and lends itself perfectly to the type of rich, spectacular images Discovery is renowned for. These include The World From Above, a unique series of aerial programmes offering an entirely different view of the world, from 10,000 feet down to just a few feet, on journeys across dramatically different landscapes in Europe, Africa and the United States.
Ultimate Power Builders looks at big, ambitious and environmentally friendly projects that will shape the Earth’s landscape for future generations, while providing unlimited sources of energy.
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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.
