Applications
HBO US selects Thomson for HD initiative
MUMBAI: To help distribute all of its 26 channels in high-definition (HD) television resolution, US broadcaster HBO has ordered Grass Valley HD cameras, servers, and routers from Thomson. The Grass Valley cameras will be used in HBO’s digital production studios in New York City, and the servers and routers will be installed in HBO’s main playout facility. HBO senior VP, broadcast operations and engineering Charles Cataldo says, “For HBO, moving to the automated K2-based distribution systems from Thomson has resulted in the development of an electronic workflow that has increased efficiencies and allowed us to put safeguards in place to ensure the reliable distribution or our programs. “We wouldn’t trust our playout operations to anything but Grass Valley server technology because we’ve grown comfortable with the mission-critical 24/7 performance they provide. Moving to the new K2 server systems is the next logical step in our evolution to high definition.” Thomson’s Broadcast and Professional Solutions business unit senior VP Jeff Rosica says, “Thomson has a long-standing relationship with HBO that has been very fruitful for both companies. HBO has been instrumental in the continuing development of Grass Valley K2 server system from Thomson and we’re pleased to continue to support HBO and help it achieve its goals as it moves aggressively into the distribution of HD programming to meet new consumer demand.”
HBO has already begun its comprehensive migration from Grass Valley Profile XP Media Platform servers to the latest-generation K2 Media Server and Media Client systems from Thomson and expects to complete the process by the end of the year.
Applications
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.
