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Walt Disney EMEA, Bt Vision launch ABC TV On Demand
MUMBAI: BT and The Walt Disney Company EMEA have announced ABC TV On Demand, a VOD (video on demand) service that will launch on 15 September to BT Vision customers in the UK. The service aims to provide a wide selection of some of the world‘s most popular US series, on demand, in one easy-to-use area.
The service will offer a range of popular US series produced by Disney‘s network TV production arm ABC Studios, giving BT Vision customers-on-demand full seasons of hit shows such as Cougar Town, Private Practice, Desperate Housewives, Criminal Minds and Brothers & Sisters, with episodes being made available after their first UK linear TV broadcast window. ABC TV On Demand will also offer past seasons of these same US series, plus other modern TV classics such as Lost, Grey‘s Anatomy and Ugly Betty. The service builds on previous series VOD agreements between Disney and BT Vision, adding a selection of new shows for the launch of the branded service.
BT Vision customers will be able to access ABC TV On Demand as part of BT Vision‘s TV Pack for ?6.99 per month. Individual episodes will be priced at 99p and customers will see new programmes added every month.
Said The Walt Disney Company EMEA media distribution SVP/GM Catherine Powell, “The ABC brand stands for innovative, high quality US television production. Leveraging this to launch an ABC TV On Demand branded service is a logical next step in our digital distribution strategy. Through partnering with successful and like-minded digital media platforms, such as BT, we are able to offer choice to consumers in how and when they enjoy our programming, while maintaining the highest quality of viewing experience.”
Added BT Retail chief executive of television and online services Marc Watson, “ABC TV On Demand is Disney‘s first launch of an ABC-branded on demand entertainment service outside of the US. BT Vision customers will be able to start, pause or rewind their favourite shows whenever they want without having to fit in with a broadcaster‘s schedule or missing an episode. This is just the latest addition to BT Vision‘s array of on-demand channels including Discovery, National Geographic and MTV.”
ABC TV On Demand is Disney‘s first launch of an ABC-branded on demand entertainment service outside of the US.
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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.
