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Scripps Networks to launch Food Network HD in Asia on 1 January
MUMBAI: Scripps Networks Interactive, which has identified international expansion as one of its key growth strategies, will launch Food Network in Asia on 1 January 2010.
The new Food Network channel, which will be programmed and versioned for specific countries, will be distributed through Measat Satellite Systems and Ascent Media. The ad-supported service will be available in high definition (HD).
Scripps Networks International president international development division Greg Moyer says, “Given the success of the Food Network brand in the United States, it’s natural to bring this genre to Asia where food is such an important part of culture and tradition.
“Food Network is an obvious and logical choice for international distribution given its universal appeal and brand power. Our objective is to aggregate an engaged and growing audience of passionate ‘foodies’ across the globe.”
Plans for the Asian version of the Food Network include original programming from the regions it will reach, as well as relevant shows that were produced for US audiences.
Scripps Networks Interactive is the majority and controlling owner of the Food Network in the US.
Last month, Scripps announced its first channel carriage outside North America: a joint venture with Chello Zone to launch Food Network in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Looking to further capitalise on a growing appetite for food TV, the company recently announced plans to launch the Cooking Channel in the US in third quarter next year. The 24-hour network will cater to avid food lovers by offering food information and instructional cooking 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.
