this post was submitted on 04 Apr 2024
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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.

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[–] [email protected] 35 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (5 children)

Enshitification gold rush continues. It's like now there is a word for it, all these companies are exploring how they can do it.

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[–] CaptainSpaceman 34 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Roku, somehow becoming shittier than Twitter

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[–] FritzGman 30 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (7 children)

You know what people tend to forget?

Shareholders = Consumers of the product too

Marketing departments that come up with these assinine ideas are staffed with consumers of the product too.

As long as enough people are making bank from this stupidity, it will not stop.

The only right answer is not to give them your money. Hard to do that when they all do it and after purchase protests are kind of pointless since they already got paid. So, how to actually impact their bottom line? That's the only language they listen to.

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[–] SapienSRC 30 points 8 months ago (7 children)

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.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 8 months ago (4 children)

I don't get it.... Wouldn't it be easier for Roku to just declare bankruptcy and saves themselves the trouble?

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I've never given money to roku, and now I'll never will

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[–] werefreeatlast 27 points 8 months ago (6 children)

Looks like I'm about to go buy another used computer to setup my streaming services using Kody.

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[–] helmet91 26 points 8 months ago

Luckily I'm not involved in this smart-TV saga in any way, as I haven't been watching TV since my childhood (there were no smart-TVs back then, but TV shows in my country were shit).

Now my biggest fear is, if enough people realize that smart-TVs are shit, then desktop monitors will start to become "smart" too. My life will be doomed if that happens.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Didn't know I'd have to drink a verification can just to turn on the TV

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 8 months ago (1 children)

All I heard is keep my current TV I'm using as a monitor alive for as long as possible.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 8 months ago (2 children)

If they can do that, then nobody can say anything about devices doing the reverse.

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[–] WhatsThePoint 21 points 8 months ago (9 children)

Can you just not connect your Smart TV to the internet at all to bypass this? I never connect my Smart TVs to the internet, just my Apple TV since it’s my streamer platform. Seems like this would hamstring their ability to push ads.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

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.

But what if I want to have ads playing while I'm playing XBox? Can the Roku analyze the image, identify 3d surfaces in the game I'm playing, and plaster ads on them so that they look integrated with the game?

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[–] cley_faye 20 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Exactly what people want: more ads.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Hardware that is supported by ads or requires a subscription should be free, or better yet, not exist at all. Fuck paying $800+ for a TV that leeches forced ad revenue on top of the sale.

And fuck the TV manufacturers for enabling this behavior. Bring back non-smart TVs. I’ll never use Roku or Google built-in streaming, so they shouldn’t be on my TV at all.

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[–] NegativeLookBehind 19 points 8 months ago (10 children)

Cool so what are some good Roku alternatives?

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[–] phoneymouse 18 points 8 months ago

Over my dead body

[–] Landmammals 18 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That's a fantastic way to guarantee my TV will not be connected to the internet

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 8 months ago (4 children)

Roku is pretty great for what it is, but the day I see such an ad is the day it hits the bin. That would finally bother me into driving the TV with an actual PC.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 8 months ago (1 children)

As a former Roku fan, forced arbitration or a brick was the breaking point. Roku can fuck off.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Playing Xbox or PS5: "Game on with power thirst"

Watching Xxx content: ((Jergens ad))

Watching a movie: "Don't forget the popcorn"

No. Fuck no. All of my fuck no's that have ever fucked no

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[–] 8ender 17 points 8 months ago

Roku, I already had you blocked at Pihole, but now I’m just straight up turning off your network access.

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