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Sony joins AT&T U-verse TV lineup in the US
MUMBAI: With the aim of evolving its entertainment offerings and delivering the content that customers want, US telecom major AT&T has announced several expansions to its AT&T U-verse TV channel lineup.
These include new high definition (HD) networks and Filipino, South Asian and Vietnamese programming options. |
TV Asia and SET Asia, which feature programming for the South Asian community, are available a la carte for $15 each a month. From 15 October, U-verse TV will add History Channel HD and Lifetime Movie Network HD to its HD lineup. With these networks, U-verse TV subscribers with the HD service option have access to a lineup of more than 30 HD channels. |
| SBTN (Saigon Broadcasting Television Network), the first 24-hour Vietnamese-language channel, is available for $15 a month. The new international networks will be available on U-verse TV from 23 October. In addition to these subscription options, AT&T U-verse TV offers the Japanese-language network, TV Japan, for $25 a month and Paquete Espa?ol, a package of Spanish-language channels, for $10 a month. The U-verse TV linear channel lineup has expanded as well with the addition of several new networks and digital music channels. On 15 October, depending on their package subscription, U-verse TV customers will gain access to BYU Television, Chiller, Fox Business Network, Ion Life, and MTV Network’s Urge digital music service featuring a variety of music genres. AT&T Entertainment Services head of content and programming Dan York says, “Our U-verse TV channel lineup keeps growing, and we are thrilled to add these quality networks to our service, providing more choice for customers. “With our increasing number of HD channels and international programming, we want all of our customers to know they can get the content they want from AT&T U-verse TV.” |
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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.
