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Granada Intl signs VoD deal in Japan
MUMBAI: Television content distributor Granada International has concluded a deal with video on demand (VoD) company Gakken Index in Japan. |
The volume agreement is for broadband VoD rights on more than 400 hours of Granada International programming. In the deal, Gakken Index will supply all the major IPTV services in Japan with Granada International content which will be branded Granada Broadband. Titles included in the deal, among many others, are Agatha Christie’s Poirot, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Sharpe, Inspector Morse, Prime Suspect. In addition, the company will also create digital versions of masters of the programming, market the service and create Japanese versions of new shows to launch on IPTV servers. Gakken Index was established by Gakken, a leading educational content and publishing company and Index, an IT and mobile phone technology and solution servicing company. Their aim was to create a company to develop “Intellectually Exciting Content”, so Gakken Index has published popular content to enhance the educational and skill training market, as well as gaming and visual content. |
Granda International MD Nadine Nohr comments, “The global VoD market is an exciting opportunity for our extensive programming portfolio. To protect all our client’s interests we have to ensure that the deal works on a number of significant levels and we are thrilled to be dealing with Gakken Index, which has its roots in two long established and well regarded companies in Japan. We are particularly pleased to have our own brand – Granada Broadband – which will allow IPTV customers to choose our programming knowing that it has a high pedigree.” Gakken Index president Watanabe says, “We are delighted to have secured a volume deal with Granada International, one of the very best global television distributors. Their programming is famous around the world and we know our IPTV viewers will seek out Granada Broadband content. “We will also work closely with Granada International to develop new exciting projects, utilizing our innovative technology and Granada’s quality programming to appeal to an even wider audience in Japan.” |
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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.
