iWorld
Celebrate Christmas with exclusive titles on Lionsgate Play
Mumbai: The bells have started to jingle and the excitement is palpable as Christmas cheer is just around the corner. With the Holiday season approaching, our hearts are full of love and the atmosphere is positively merry. Be it a yearly family gathering or an extravagant vacation, Christmas without a movie is like hot chocolate without marshmallows – simply incomplete! So, as we snuggle into our couches, with cozy sweaters, thick blankets and gingerbread cookies, Lionsgate Play is here to ensure you reminisce the comforting nostalgia of all things Christmas with these unmissable titles.
Christmas Made To Order
Starring Jonathan Bennet, Alexa PenaVega and Jo Marie Payton, this heartfelt romance follows Steven, an amateur who hires Gretchen, a perfectionist to recreate the ideal Christmas for his family. A classic case of opposites attract, the festive magic helps their unexpected romance bloom, teaching them the true essence of the holidays and togetherness. Encapsulating the feel-good factor perfectly, the film explores the joy of embracing imperfections and finding love in unexpected places.
Christmas Wonderland
Love has a way of sneaking back into your life when you least expect it. When Heidi, an art curator, is forced to return to her hometown to watch her niece and nephew, she comes face to face with her childhood love, Chris. As they come together to plan the school Christmas party, sparks fly once again, making them relive their romance all over again. With Emily Osment and Ryan Rottman in the lead, this watch will transport you back to sweeter times.
Christmas Land
Some traditions should never be broken. Starring Nikki DeLoach, Luke MacFarlane and Maureen McCormick, Christmas Land follows Jules, a savvy businesswoman, who inherits a picturesque Christmas-themed village from her grandmother. Tasked with selling the estate, she finds herself entangled in the town’s enchanting traditions and Tucker, a kind-hearted man who takes care of it. A journey of rediscovery and love, Jules explores the enchantment of the Holiday season and staying true to your loved ones.
A Prince for Christmas
A fairytale romance that will leave you in the feels. When Katie, a commoner, meets a European Prince on his escapade to America, their paths collide in the most beautiful manner. Running away from an arranged marriage, Duncan finds himself enamored by Katie’s simple ways and big dreams. Surrounded by royal intrigue, plenty of Christmas magic and love, this charming narrative sees Viva Bianca, Kirk Barker, Aaron O’Connell and Maxwell Caufield in titular roles.
Catch the Christmas feels only on Lionsgate Play.
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.
