iWorld
Twitter handle @StarFootball crosses one million followers
MUMBAI: Home to a number of leading domestic and International sports, the Star Sports network with eleven channels broadcasts premier sporting events has a leading voice for football on social media, @StarFootball – the official Star Sports Football Twitter handle – has surpassed the following of football teams by garnering more than 1 million followers.This growth is fuelled by fascinating content, engaging updates which includes the latest news and happenings from the world of football. In just one year, the page has witnessed a massive 930 per cent organic growth, becoming a popular social destination for the football community.
Real-time updates and appealing campaigns related to leagues such as Premier League and Bundesliga helps fans engage with the handle and enjoy football during the games and even off-season. @StarFootball has 9 lakh more followers since April 2016. The @StarFootball community is now bigger in number than most of the football leagues and clubs in the world. The handle has more followers than most current Premier League teams, apart from the ‘Big Four’ and Man City; more followers than most current La Liga teams,apart from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid; and most current Bundesliga teams, except Bayern Munich and Dortmund.
Enthused about reaching this milestone, a Star India Spokesperson said, “Star Sports is committed to bringing fans closer to football, and this is true across our social media platforms as well.Star Sports engages with the growing base of football fans through its official twitter handle,@StarFootball. It is exciting to see the page reach more than 1 million followers.Over time,it has emerged as a community that engages not just with fans but also national and international players. We will continue to drive interesting conversations with more immersive and compelling content.”
Footballers from the Indian Super League, Premier League, and Bundesliga have been seen engaging on @StarFootball. Among these are popular names such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Riyad Mahrez, Arata Izumi, John Arne Riise and Nico Velez. The handle is followed by world-renowned opinion makers such as Jordan Henderson, Matthew Hayden, Joe Morrison, Mikael Silvestre and clubs like LFC India, Chelsea India etc.
The Star Sports Football Twitter page brings the latest in Football to the fans and helps them remain informed about their favourite clubs and players. The handlehas emerged as a digital destination for fans to catch match build-ups, view posters of their favourite, entertaining memes and some finest moments in football, among others.
iWorld
Frodoh, Chaupal introduce non-intrusive first-screen ads for OTT platforms
New ad-tech layer unlocks revenue without interrupting OTT viewing
MUMBAI: Frodoh has partnered with regional OTT platform Chaupal to roll out what it calls an industry-first “first-screen” monetisation framework, aimed at helping subscription-led streaming services generate additional revenue without interrupting content viewing.
The new model focuses on connected TV home screens, introducing ad formats that sit within the discovery layer rather than the content itself. In simple terms, viewers may notice subtle brand placements while browsing, but once they hit play, the experience remains ad-free.
The technology is designed to tap into high-attention areas such as session depth, viewing intent and discovery behaviour, turning previously unused interface space into monetisable real estate. For OTT platforms, this opens up a fresh revenue stream without diluting the premium experience that subscribers expect.
Chaupal chief executive officer Sandeep Bansal said the move balances growth with user trust. “By partnering with Frodoh, we are introducing a sophisticated ‘first-screen’ monetisation layer that integrates seamlessly into our UI, ensuring discovery remains native and non-intrusive while keeping content consumption ad-free.”
From Frodoh’s side, the pitch is clear: expand the ad pie without cluttering the screen. Frodoh founder and chief executive officer Russhabh R Thakkar said the framework creates a new category of advertising by unlocking high-visibility home screen inventory that was previously untapped.
Industry watchers see this as part of a broader shift in OTT monetisation strategies, especially as subscription platforms look to diversify revenue without risking churn. With connected TV usage rising steadily, the home screen is quickly becoming the next battleground for attention.
If the model scales, this partnership could signal a subtle but significant shift in how OTT platforms monetise, proving that sometimes, the most valuable ad space is the one you see before the show even begins.
