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Penthouse contracts additional 3D capacity on Astra
MUMBAI: European DTH service operator SES Astra has signed a capacity agreement with Penthouse Digital Media Productions Inc. for a second Penthouse 3D channel on ASTRA 23.5 degrees East (11778.00MHz) for the encrypted distribution to TV platform providers across Europe.
Penthouse 3D is the first worldwide 3D adult channel, A first 3D channel from Penthouse started on Astra 23.5 degrees East in March this year. In the meantime, Penthouse has concluded distribution agreements for its 3D channels with French IPTV provider Free and Turkish DTH provider Digiturk, while further agreements are expected shortly.
SES chief commercial officer Ferdinand Kayser said, “We are very pleased with the signing of the second Penthouse 3D channel on ASTRA, confirming our leading position in the 3D television market. Furthermore, it is another boost for the development of ASTRA 23.5 East as Europe’s fastest growing neighbourhood for both Direct-To-Home and Direct-to-Cable distribution.”
FriendFinder Networks CEO Marc Bell said, “We are excited about adding another channel to the Penthouse 3D line-up on Astra. Working with SES Astra fits very well with our ambition to be the leader in technology and we will continue to provide consumers with a variety of options of new content on the world’s best platforms.”
Including the two Penthouse 3D channels, Astra currently distributes seven 3D channels via its satellites. Other channels include Sky 3D channels for UK and Germany, Canal+ 3D in France, Viasat 3D in Scandinavia and Brava3D. In addition, SES Astra has launched a 3D demo channel featuring high quality 3D for the retail market.
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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.
