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Trai extends time for stakeholder views on DTH tariff
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today extended till 5 February the time for stakeholders to send their views on a supplementary consultation paper specifically dealing with certain aspects of tariff related issues for basic and add-on packages in case of DTH services.
The supplementary consultation paper is in continuation with the consultation paper issued on “DTH Issues relating to Tariff Regulation & new issues under reference” dated 6 March this year and was issued after an order of the Tdsat.
After giving the necessary background, Trai had sought the views of stakeholders by 18 January 2010. But following representations from stakeholders and considering the importance of the issue, the sector regulator decided to extend the time. Those stakeholders who have submitted their comments on earlier occasions regarding issues raised in the consultation paper dated 6 March 2009 may also submit their revised comments or supplement their earlier comments.
Among other questions, Trai has asked whether there is a need to differentiate various packages for the purpose of wholesale tariff determination, whether there is a need for different wholesale price formulation for a TV channel/bouquet depending upon its inclusion in different packages offered to the subscribers by the DTH operators, whether the wholesale price is to be linked with packaging of the TV channels and what should be the relationship between wholesale prices of a TV channel/bouquet offered by a broadcaster to a DTH operator, if the channel/bouquet is packaged as a part of a basic package, or as a part of add-on-package or both by a DTH operator.
Answers have also sought on whether DTH operator should extend a-la-carte mode of service provisioning of a TV channel at the level of subscriber, can the DTH operator offer a-la-carte option as one of the entry level options for subscribers, and if the DTH operators are required to make available the channels on ala-carte basis to the subscriber, then what could be the minimum number of channels and/or minimum subscription price and/or minimum subscription period for subscribing to the channels.
In case of a-la-carte provision to the subscribers, Trai wants to know if there should be a maximum permitted time frame for servicing request of a DTH subscriber, and whether there is need to identify relationship between wholesale and retail price of that channel.
Trai also wants to know why a DTH operator should not extend a-la-carte mode of service provisioning of a TV channel at the level of subscriber, and whether the DTH operator can offer a-la-carte option as one of the entry level options for the subscribers and what should be the minimum number of channels and/or minimum subscription price and/or minimum subscription period for subscribing to the channels.
At the outset, Trai notes that there has been substantial growth in DTH services in the country in last 2-3 years. It has become a major addressable service in distribution of TV signals to the viewers across the country.
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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.
