Observed Signal · Nov 30, 2025 · Product Launch · Source: State of Streaming · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Lionsgate Launches MovieSphere Gold FAST Channel
Lionsgate has launched MovieSphere Gold, an ad-supported movie channel (FAST/diginet) built to monetize its film library. The channel is a partnership with Lionsgate subsidiary Debmar-Mercury and is live in over 30 million homes. MovieSphere Gold will program marquee franchise titles (e.g., The Hunger Games, The Expendables) alongside well-known library movies such as Dirty Dancing and Rambo. CBS Media Ventures will handle national advertising sales. The move is part of Lionsgate's broader FAST channel strategy to create dedicated free, ad-supported destinations for its catalog and to tap the growing digital multicast / FAST audience.
Adds sizeable AVOD/FAST inventory from a major studio, leverages owned IP for ad monetization, and uses an established media-sales partner (CBS Media Ventures), affecting CTV supply and national ad opportunities.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Lionsgate launched MovieSphere Gold, an ad-supported movie channel.
- The channel is a partnership with Lionsgate subsidiary Debmar-Mercury.
- MovieSphere Gold is already live in over 30 million homes.
- CBS Media Ventures will handle national advertising sales for the channel.
- Programming will feature major franchises (The Hunger Games, The Expendables) and library titles (Dirty Dancing, Rambo).
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Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Lionsgate Partners with FreeWheel for Ad Monetization Strategy
Lionsgate has chosen Comcast’s FreeWheel as its exclusive ad server to manage and monetize the growing ad inventory from its FAST (free, ad-supported) channels. The studio conducted an RFP to gain more control over its inventory and selected FreeWheel as a trusted partner due to Lionsgate’s lack of a legacy advertising business. Lionsgate has already begun offering FAST channels through DirecTV, Pluto TV, LG, and Vizio, and had previously worked with a CTV reseller. FreeWheel will handle ad monetization to maximize value while Lionsgate scales its channel network and collects data to inform production decisions. The move reflects a broader shift toward more direct ad control and data-driven decision making in TV/CTV.
LG and Lionsgate Launch 3 New Free Channels
LG has launched three new free, ad-supported channels on LG Channels in partnership with Lionsgate, featuring The Hunger Games, Saw, and John Wick franchises. These pop-up channels will be available at different times through the end of the year. Additionally, four new Lionsgate FAST channels will debut, including Pulse, Rookie Blue, Lionsgate Network, and Ghosts. The move follows the success of a previous Hunger Games pop-up channel, and aims to provide curated, limited-time viewing events for fans while adding value to the LG Channels and webOS experience.
New York Post Launches Free FAST Channel
New York Post Media Group is launching a free, ad-supported FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel in partnership with VideoElephant Fast Managed Services. The channel will repurpose video assets from The New York Post portfolio — including Page Six and Decider — delivering roughly 150 hours of TV-formatted programming at launch with a planned 20% monthly refresh. VideoElephant will manage channel operations: content scheduling, platform distribution, and advertising monetization. The move targets major connected-TV platforms and smart TVs and aims to leverage the publisher’s reported ~62 million unique monthly visitors (92% outside the New York metro area). The launch reflects broader industry trends toward free linear streaming: roughly 64% of U.S. households now consume free content and connected-TV ad spend is forecast to reach $38 billion by end-2026. Further launch timing and distribution details are pending.
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