Applications
Murdoch mulls launch of digital newspaper
MUMBAI: Rupert Murdoch is mulling with the idea of launching a digital newspaper in the US. The digital publication would be available as an application for the iPad and other devices like the mobile phone.
The initiative underscores Murdoch’s belief in the game-changing power of the iPad that is in the process of transforming the reading habits of consumers, in much the same way as iPod did for music.
Playout for the new channel will include an initial ingest of 100 hours of video, ongoing ingest and archive of the content and logo insertions, as well as schedule-driven dynamic graphics, such as tickers, automated continuity, menu boards and Call To Actions (CTA), with a view to adding voice overs in the future.
GlobeCast is also offering Vintage TV a MAM solution which will allow it to archive content to a library hosted in GlobeCast’s central London facility. From here, the broadcaster can remotely search and view the content for playout. When ready for playout, the content will be made available to GlobeCast’s playout automation system automatically.
The newest addition to GlobeCast’s platform on Eurobird, Vintage TV will join more than 100 video and radio channels including Al-Jazeera International, NBC and NHK.
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.
