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Harris supports first 3DTV trials in Australia
MUMBAI: Harris has announced that a range of its 3DTV-compliant broadcast equipment is being used by Nine Network and SBS to support Australia’s first 3DTV trials.
The trials will include coverage of this year’s Harvey Norman State of Origin Series rugby showdown — the world’s first sporting event to be broadcast live in 3D on free-to-air TV — and the 3D screening by SBS of selected football matches from South Africa.
Nine Network and SBS jointly applied for a test broadcast license for the 3DTV trial, which commenced on 19 May and concludes on 19 July.
The sporting events will be broadcast in 3D in Australia’s five major metropolitan centers — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth — as well as in Wollongong and Newcastle. Viewers with access to 3DTV digital receivers will be able to watch history in the making.
During the trials, Harris X50™ frame synchronizer/converters are being used to ensure synchronous transport of the 3DTV signals in a side-by-side HD frame-compatible format from the stadium to Nine Network’s 3D master control facility. There, the content is processed through the Harris IconMaster™ master control switcher, where bugs and watermarks are laid down and presented live to air.
Demonstration and replay content is also being recorded onto a Harris Nexio sever for playout at times when live events are not scheduled. The X50 signal processors will also be used by SBS for side-by-side signal generation before on-passing to their playout facility.
Harris provided additional support by fast-tracking two DVB-T digital transmitters into Australia in conjunction with Broadcast ONE, who also supplied their engineering services for the transmission installation and commissioning process.
The Harris transmitters included in these 3DTV trials are the Maxiva 5.5 kW ULX solid-state liquid-cooled and the Maxiva 1kW UAX air-cooled transmitters — both incorporating the Harris PowerSmart® technology for best-in-class power density and efficiency.
Nine Network Australia network manager, broadcast technology Charles Sevior says, “We are very excited about these trials and what they mean for the future development of 3DTV in the coverage of live sporting events not only in Australia, but also the rest of the world.
“Our collaboration with Harris shows the pioneering spirit of both companies to drive forward the implementation of new technologies that will, over time, revolutionize our business and keep consumers engaged with the broadcast television platform”
Given the limited availability of 3DTV receivers across Australia, it is expected that the audiences for the initial 3DTV trials will be largely found in key retail venues. Additionally, material captured during these live sporting events will be recorded and replayed on the 3D trial broadcast to assist retail outlets in demonstrating 3DTV displays to interested consumers.
Harris president Harris Morris says, “Studies indicate that more than 20 million TV homes globally will be watching 3DTV within five years, with 4.6 million of those expected to be in Asia Pacific. We are proud that our technology is playing an integral part in these trials by Nine Network and SBS, which should help improve the consumer experience and drive global acceptance of 3DTV.”
Whether a broadcaster is building a facility from the ground up or adding 3DTV capabilities to an existing operation, Harris delivers a complete 3DTV workflow — from content contribution to processing to distribution. Harris is also an active participant in industry-wide 3DTV standardization efforts.
Harris offers products, systems and services that provide interoperable workflow solutions for broadcast, cable, satellite and out-of-home networks.
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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.
