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WarnerTV to debut network in Hong Kong on now TV
MUMBAI: now TV and Warner Bros. International Branded Services have announced that the WarnerTV linear channel has become available to Hong Kong television audiences.
The general entertainment network, featuring TV series and movies selected from the Warner Bros. Entertainment studio specifically for Asian audiences, will be carried on now TV’s channel 530.
A majority of the series offered on WarnerTV will be broadcast as premieres in Hong Kong, including the sexy new drama series “Nikita” starring Maggie Q; season five of “The Closer” starring Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick; the third season of the blockbuster hit comedy “The Big Bang Theory” starring Johnny Galecki, Emmy winner Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco; as well as up-and-coming teen favorite drama “Pretty Little Liars,” which is adapted from Sara Shepard’s bestselling eight-book series.
Feature films on WarnerTV include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Harry Potter franchise, “The Dark Knight,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Rush Hour” and more.
WarnerTV is modeled after Warner Bros’ highly successful Warner Channel in Latin America. Developed, programmed and scheduled by Warner Bros. International Branded Services, WarnerTV is distributed exclusively in the region by HBO Asia.
Warner Bros. International Branded Services’ executive VP – business management Malcolm Dudley-Smith said, “Hong Kong is an important market for us in the WarnerTV Asia Pacific rollout strategy as we expand our presence into the region, and we are extremely excited to have now TV in Hong Kong as our strategic partner here.”
PCCW MD of TV and new media Janice Lee said, “The debut of WarnerTV on now TV will further strengthen our comprehensive world-class program lineup. Not only will customers be able to enjoy top content from one of the world’s best entertainment studios in the world, but also watch their favorite programs any time they want through our now Select on demand service and through other PCCW quadruple-play platforms including PCCW mobile, Netvigator broadband service and PCCW eye2.”
The WarnerTV channel is now available in seven Asian territories including Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and the Philippines.
The expansion of the WarnerTV linear channel continues Warner Bros. International Branded Services’ global strategy of launching branded programming services showcasing content produced and distributed by the studio. With the rollout of WarnerTV throughout Asia, the studio’s linear channels and video-on-demand branded services number more than 50 in over 60 countries around the world.
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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.
