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MGM Channel joins launch lineup of Top-TV in South Africa
MUMBAI: Continuing its aggressive and highly successful drive to bring The MGM Channel into every corner of the globe, MGM Worldwide Networks has entered into a deal with On Digital Media (ODM) to launch The MGM Channel in South Africa on the basic tier of its new pay TV satellite platform, Top-TV.
The announcement was made at the television trade event MipTV in cannes, France by MGM Worldwide Networks persident Bruce Tuchman and ODM CEO Vino Govender.
While The MGM Channel is widely available in markets across Sub-Saharan and North Africa, securing the launch agreement on Top-TV represents the first time The MGM Channel will be available in South Africa as MGM Worldwide Networks continues its rapid global expansion bringing a range of Oscar winning favorites, modern movies, gems from Hollywood‘s golden age and cult classics to viewers around the world.
MGM Worldwide Networks now offers nearly two dozen separate branded networks broadcasting in over two dozen languages and reaching markets across every inhabited continent, including channels in both standard and high definition, the most recent of which — MGM HD — launched just a few months ago in partnership with Sky in the UK.
In South Africa, the MGM Channel joins the launch lineup of Top-TV, which will debut to consumers on 1 May, 2010. ODM will launch Top-TV as South Africa‘s second pay satellite TV and the service will offer a total of 55 channels with 25 channels in its basic offering. Top-TV promises to make a big impact on the multichannel television market in terms of choice, flexibility and affordability.
Tuchman says, “This is an exciting launch for The MGM Channel to be part of since consumers will now have more choice at affordable prices at the hands of their remote controls. MGM is proud to be part of this exciting move as we plan to entertain viewers with a special, hand-picked selection of some of the greatest movies ever produced in Hollywood with top stars, directors and writers. We are also very pleased to add South Africa to our extensive and still growing global footprint.”
Govender says, “We are pleased to offer our new subscribers the ability to enjoy the MGM brand of movies with great blockbuster titles and renowned classics alike. As we build out our channels, we believe that The MGM Channel will be a valuable proposition in attracting new subscribers.”
The MGM Channel in South Africa will feature films like Get Shorty, Hoosiers, The Madness of King George and Some Like It Hot.
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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.
