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.

  • SapienSRC
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    306 months ago

    I wish I could find a TV for sale that isn’t a Smart TV. It’s not necessary and you get issues like this down the road. I’m sure it isn’t too long until the other TV manufactures do the same thing.

    • @Ginger666
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      56 months ago

      I got a shitty tcl from wallyworld for like 110 and I never put it on WiFi so I never get any ads on the home screen. DNS would prolly block them tho…

    • @Death_Equity
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      46 months ago

      Commercial displays are dumb TVs.

      My Sony is smart but doesn’t care that it doesn’t have Internet connection and hasn’t tried any funny business with open networks.

    • @johannesvanderwhales
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      26 months ago

      Personally I will not give my TV internet access and never initialized Google TV on it. Seems to work fine.

    • Camelbeard
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      06 months ago

      Maybe just get a large monitor? Its probably cheaper too