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Online TV taking off in Europe
MUMBAI: Almost half of Europeans are already watching television shows through their broadband internet connections, a new study has revealed. In a study of 2,500 broadband users across the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, 45 per cent said they frequently watch TV over the internet and this figure is set to grow over the next few years as major broadcasters continue to digitise their material. The French were the most demanding for online content, followed by the Brits in second place and Italians in third in the research by Motorola. |
The TV itself is evolving, according to the study, becoming an interactive entertainment and communications tool. On average users are now connecting three devices to their TV sets, and close to a third of all Europeans are attaching a digital camera to download and view photos. 45 per cent of Europeans believe they will be making video calls using their TV by the time the 2012 Olympics are on. Motorola notes that the results show that viewers across Europe are no longer satisfied with fitting into schedules dictated by broadcasters and are turning to the choice and flexibility offered by TV over the internet. What is being seen is a nation of citizen schedulers who are in control of their entertainment, allowing them to watch what they want, how and when they want it. |
57 per cent of respondents want the ability to go online via the TV set during a live broadcast, for example to get sports statistics during a match or check out retail stores for fashion show items 35 per cent of viewers want the ability to pause, fast forward or rewind live broadcast programming |
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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.
