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Viacom18 signs up for capacity on Measat-3a
MUMBAI: Viacom18 and Measat Satellite Systems (Measat) have reached an agreement for use of the Measat-3a satellite for the international distribution of Viacom18‘s channels across the Asian region.
Viacom18 is a 50:50 joint venture between Viacom Inc and the Network 18 Group, which runs leading brands across television, film and digital media. It operates Colors, MTV, Nick, VH1 and Viacom18 Motion Pictures.
“With wide coverage and a powerful Asian footprint, Measat-3a is the obvious satellite choice for distribution of our international services,” said Viacom18 chief technology officer Piyush Gupta.
“Measat is excited to be working with Viacom18 to distribute its popular international channels via Measat-3a,” said Measat senior director, sales and marketing Yau Chyong Lim. “The addition of Viacom18‘s channels further enhances the assortment of premium channels on Measat‘s 91.5°E Asia video neighbourhood.”
The MEASAT-3/3a satellites distribute news, lifestyle, music, general entertainment, sports and documentary channels across Asia. With a bouquet of SD, HD and 3D channels, Measat boasts of being the preferred satellite operator for broadcast distribution in the region.
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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.
