Applications
Microsoft to showcase solutions for media industry at IBC
MUMBAI: Software major Microsoft will reveal, at the International Broadcasting Conference (IBC), new partner solutions built on Microsoft technology In tandem with announcements of US and European customers deploying solutions for the broadcast industry based on the Microsoft platform, delivering consumer experiences across PC, TV and mobile, Microsoft will showcase today the latest developments at the Microsoft exhibit in the Topaz Lounge, at the Amsterdam Rai Exhibition and Convention Centre. Microsoft will showcase four solution areas and across 14 different partner demonstrations: digital content management, search and monetisation, media business management, and digital content experiences. Microsoft senior director of the media and entertainment business in the communications sector Gabriele Di Piazza said, “Working with the organisations in the broadcast and entertainment world, we aim to deliver insights and innovations through technology, making content immersive and experiential for the consumer while also more easily managed and produced behind the scenes. Consumers can now access this new world of entertainment via the PC, through the TV or on a mobile device, a choice that allows them to enjoy content in a way they never have before.”Demonstrations will highlight the growing number of customers including Tesco, Canal+, France 24, ESPN, NBC Sports, ProSieben, Sat 1 and TV2 that are using the Microsoft platform including Silverlight and Internet Information Microsoft will also preview the latest media feature developments planned for Microsoft Silverlight 4, including native multicast support and support for offline digital rights management (DRM) powered by Microsoft PlayReady technology. The company claims that in three years, Microsoft Mediaroom has become the most deployed Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) software platform, according to data from Screen Digest, Microsoft will also be showing a number of live Mediaroom services, giving visitors the opportunity to see how global operators are delivering TV experiences on the Mediaroom IPTV and multimedia platform. In the 12 months since IBC in September 2008, Microsoft has seen the number of Mediaroom subscriber households more than double from 1.5 million to almost 4 million, of which nearly 2 million are in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, the company said.
Services (IIS) Media Services 3.0 to enable rich and compelling consumer experiences globally.
and with nearly 4 million of the total estimated 24 million IPTV subscriber households worldwide. At the current growth rate, Microsoft expects Mediaroom households to pass the 4 million mark in October 2009.
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.
