The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TIE-INS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
T
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More clues leading to the result TIE-INS
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Connections" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case connections = tie-ins.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TIE-INS mean?
TIE-INS noun- Something that is related or connected to another
- An authorized product based on a media property, such as a film or video game, by way of cross-promotion.
- An association or connection between things