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HBO expands reach of BabyFirst to more Asian countries
NEW DELHI: BabyFirst, the US-based 24/7 commercial-free educational channel for babies distributed in Asia by HBO, has expanded its global footprint to include leading operators NexMedia, AORA and Megamedia in Indonesia; and CEPCO in Cambodia.
Each of the four platforms are offering the linear channel as part of their basic or kids and family packages.
“With the help of our great distribution partners at HBO Asia, we are thrilled to launch in Indonesia and Cambodia – both important countries for us in the Asian market,” said BabyFirst CEO Guy Oranim. “We have seen a steady increase in demand from the region for the BabyFirstTV channel as well as for our mobile products. We’re happy to be able to answer the needs of families and provide a safe, fun and educational environment for their young children.”
BabyFirst can be seen now throughout Indonesia via AORA on channel 114 and on NexMedia (formerly known as MAC) on channel 101. MegaMedia will launch the BabyFirst service in Indonesia later this year. In addition, CEPCO will offer the BabyFirst channel soon to its Cambodian customers.
“HBO Asia is pleased to be able to expand the distribution of BabyFirst in Asia to NexMedia, AORA and Megamedia in Indonesia, and CEPCO in Cambodia due to our extensive reach in Asia and close relationships with our affiliates,” said Jacelyn Kek, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, HBO Asia. “Subscribers in Indonesia and Cambodia will now have access to quality educational and entertaining content for young children and their parents.”
BabyFirst is the leading baby-focused TV channel and new media company dedicated to delivering educational and entertaining content for young children and their parents. Working closely with an extensive network of renowned authorities in every area of early childhood educational and psychology, BabyFirst is an age-appropriate TV network, website and mobile app creator.
The BabyFirst channel is currently available to more than 50 million households in 35 countries including the top five U.S. satellite and cable operators. BabyFirst in included in the basic package on Dish Network and available as a premium service via DirecTV, Time-Warner, Comcast and Charter.
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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.
