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Trai conducts digitalization round table
MUMBAI: Foloowing the rollout of conditional access system (Cas) in parts of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, broadcast regulator Trai has conducted a round table meeting on digitalization of television transmission and voluntary implementation of Cas. |
In order to take the process of digitalization forward and also to explore the possibility of voluntary implementation of CAS in other parts of the country, Trai conducted a round table meeting on 1 February in Delhi with various stake holders. |
Experts as well as representatives of consumer organizations, multi system operators (MSOs), cable operators, DTH operators, broadcasters and equipment manufacturers participated in the round table. In the meeting there was a broad consensus about the need for digitalization and addressability. The participants raised certain issues in order to arrive at a feasible road map. The major issues that were raised by the stakeholders relates to fiscal rationalization, encouragement of domestic manufacturing, changes in the regulatory regime (especially the need for price control), ensuring affordability and choice and exploring alternative models for voluntary Cas. A small sub group has been constituted in order to discuss issues relating to digitalization and voluntary introduction of Cas. The discussions with the stake holders would continue in future also.s |
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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.
