Roku is exploring ways to show consumers ads on its TVs even when they are not using its streaming platform: The company has been looking into injecting ads into the video feeds of third-party devices connected to its TVs, according to a recent patent filing.
This way, when an owner of a Roku TV takes a short break from playing a game on their Xbox, or streaming something on an Apple TV device connected to the TV set, Roku would use that break to show ads. Roku engineers have even explored ways to figure out what the consumer is doing with their TV-connected device in order to display relevant advertising.
Not open source, but I use the Google TV chromecast in “apps only” mode.
Its very minimal but you still get a single picture of whatever show is being promoted that week. No other intrusive adds have been added {yet}.
Even better, install “Projectivity launcher” on your Chromecast.
I have it configured to only show the buttons for the 4 apps I use. Not a single advertisement on the main screen, and all is clean and fast.