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Star India beefs up mobile audio service ‘Voice’
MUMBAI: Pushing the ‘digital‘ envelope further, Star India has announced the full-fledged launch of its mobile audio entertainment service Voice. The service now offers audio capsules of some of the leading programmes in the Star Network. |
The programmes now available on Voice include prime time soaps Kyunki Saas Bhi…, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kasauti Zindagi Ke, Viraasat, the afternoon serials Bhabhi and Kumkum. Also in the pipeline is, content based on the upcoming Star One celeb talent hunt show Nach Baliye 2. States Star Interactive senior vice president Viren Popli, “There is a ready demand for popular TV content and interactivity on the go. STAR 7827 Voice is a platform for the non-SMS, non English-speaking viewers of our channels to enable them to keep up, and interact with our channels and with their favourite shows.” |
As already reported by indiantelevision.com, Star India debuted Voice on with an audio-episode of Plus‘ new prime-time show Karam Apnaa Apnaa 23 August. Now the entry of more shows on the platform has made Voice a full-fledged service, according to Popli. “We tested waters with Karam Apnaa Apnaa and got a very encouraging respose. This has inspired us to launch more content on Voice. STAR 7827 Voice will be fully integrated into Star channels, thereby increasing the channels‘ interactivity. We are also looking to enter the Tamil Nadu market through Vijay TV,” says Popli. The service will be available to BSNL subscribers and Hutch, Spice (Karnataka & Punjab) will follow thereafter. To explore STAR 7827 Voice, mobile subscribers can dial in 127827 from their BSNL and 5057827 from their Hutch mobile phones for the latest in mobile content. Also read: |
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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.
