Applications
TV18’s net arm Web18 takes a strategic stake in BigTree Entertainment
MUMBAI: The TV18 Group‘s, Internet arm, Web18, has acquired a majority stake in Bigtree Entertainment which works in the area of movie and entertainment ticketing. This investment will further strengthen the group‘s position in the Internet and mobile transactions space |
Over the past eight years, Bigtree has established a strong brand presence in the Indian market by offering its integrated entertainment ticketing solutions and services across 35 cities in India. Bigtree says that it fulfills an important need for the entertainment industry by providing ticketing applications to cinemas and entertainment venues. This is done through a suite of software products ranging from box office ticketing, concessions management, web ticketing, mobile ticketing, loyalty management software, film programming, bar code ticketing, voucher management, etc. Bigtree also specialises in ticket selling services to end consumers. Cinemas and event organizers are offered a complete solution through 16 call centers, Internet ticketing and a mobile ticketing platform. The company provides the necessary software, processes, systems, door delivery options, cash collection, warehousing and accounting services, and currently handles over 2.5 million ticketing transactions annually for all major exhibition chains/centres across the country. Web18 had acquired a majority stakes in Yatra.com and Jobstreet.com India a few months ago. |
TV18 Group CEO Haresh Chawla says, “This acquisition is in line with our strategy to strengthen our position in the Consumer Internet space. The Internet and Mobile markets are key to the Group‘s future and growth |
Applications
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.
