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Robert Hayes is NBC executive VP, digital media
MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC Entertainment has named Robert Hayes to the newly created position of executive VP, digital media. He will report to NBC Entertainment Marketing and Digital president Len Fogge.
While making the announcement jointly, NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt and NBC Broadcasting chairman Ted Harbert emphasised the strategic role of digital media in a highly competitive television landscape.
Greenblatt said, “It‘s critical that we do everything possible to light up digital media in order to help rebuild the primetime schedule. And there‘s no one better to lead this effort than Rob Hayes. I saw the effect he had at Showtime firsthand, and it‘s no accident that the pay network‘s explosion coincided with its digital innovations.”
Harbert said, “As NBC expands its digital media reach. We want to take full advantage of the synergy between programming, marketing and digital media which the interface between Rob, Len and Bob represents.”
Hayes will oversee the network‘s day-to-day digital strategy and operations, encompassing NBC‘s various digital platforms and initiatives which include NBC.com, social media, online, mobile/apps, connected devices, multi-platform programming, product development, digital media business development and digital marketing.
Fogge said, “Digital media is an essential component of NBC‘s programming, marketing and monetization strategies. Rob‘s demonstrated success as a creative digital media executive who understands the intersection between consumer behavior and emerging technologies makes him ideal to lead our initiatives in this area.”
Hayes‘ hire signals the network‘s move to more closely align its digital and programming strategies by engaging fans, growing revenue, and enhancing digital marketing opportunities for NBC shows such as ‘Smash‘, ‘The Voice‘and ‘30 Rock‘.
Hayes comes to NBC from Iconic Entertainment where he served as COO, creating premium VOD channels for YouTube and other premium over-the-top distributors.
Prior to that, Hayes made his biggest impact at Showtime Networks where he oversaw all things digital for the premium network, developing identities for shows like ‘Dexter‘, ‘Weeds‘, ‘Nurse Jackie‘, ‘Californication‘ and ‘The Tudors‘.” Under Hayes‘ leadership, Showtime broke new ground in developing a digital business strategy that included the first deals for premium television with iTunes, Amazon and Netflix, among others. During his tenure, the network enjoyed its greatest growth spurt from 12 million to more than 18 million subscribers.
Earlier in his career, Hayes served as VP of Business Development and VP, International Business Development, assessing opportunities for Showtime and other Viacom brands, focussing on Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and at Home Box Office in the International Business Development and Operations group, launching HBO‘s first networks overseas.
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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.
