Applications
Nat Geo partners with Thought Equity for online distribution of content
MUMBAI: National Geographic Digital Motion, the stock footage service of National Geographic Digital Media, has chosen Thought Equity as the online distribution partner to complement its existing licensing business. Digital Motion is the digital archive and licensing service for all National Geographic film and video. The partnership unites an international motion image collections with the most technically advanced licensing company in the world. Thought Equity works in the area of commercial licensing and management of motion imagery, |
|
National Geographic Digital Motion says that it has made significant investments to enhance its existing online licensing operations and prepare the library for access through a variety of distribution channels. National Geographic Digital Motion VP worldwide sales Jocelyn Shearer says, “We wanted an additional online presence, and have found a licensing partner well-versed in every aspect of motion imagery licensing and management to help us reach our goals. Thought Equity has demonstrated its ability to serve the technological and time-sensitive needs of current and future producers and editors. “We chose Thought Equity as our exclusive online distribution partner because they offer the best user experience in the industry. They have the scale to put more of our library online faster than any other company and are the clear leader in all areas of technology, including search, real-time content delivery, creative content packaging and marketing in new media”. |
Thoughtequity.com says that it has become a preferred destination for international agencies, studios and corporations that produce messages and programming for traditional and new media such as digital displays, podcasts, social networks, mobile phones and other portable devices. Thought Equity CEO Kevin Schaff said, “Every day we develop new technology to make it easier for professionals in the creative and entertainment industries to access the nearly $1 billion in production value that is available for licensing at thoughtequity.com. The addition of the National Geographic Collection to our library supports our commitment to offer not only exceptional motion imagery with high production value, but also the most topically diverse and internationally relevant imagery. Our base of worldwide customers is expanding rapidly, and the addition of the National Geographic Collection allows them to be more efficient by finding more of what they need from one site.” With the addition of the National Geographic Collection to thoughtequity.com, entertainment, creative and corporate production companies worldwide will have real-time access to National Geographic‘s motion imagery capturing international culture, science and nature. The collection features footage from National Geographic programmes and films. These include National Geographic television and film productions, the Explorer series and other exclusive productions for the National Geographic Channel. These productions have won more than 1,000 industry awards, including an Academy Award and 126 Emmy Awards. |
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.
