Roku TVs could one day show ads as soon as you pause playing a game on a connected Xbox, or stop a stream on an Apple TV.

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.

  • EmperorHenryEnglish
    602·
    8 months ago

    yarr harr fiddle dee dee, do what you want 'cause a pirate is free!

    Sorry, I love that song. What are we talking about?

      • misanthropy@lemm.eeEnglish
        201·
        8 months ago

        Only if you’re the kind of absolute dolt to let your television connect to the internet

        • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
          5·
          8 months ago

          I am not looking forward to the point where more hardware manufacturers start taking the route that automobile manufacturers are currently taking and start building cell radios into the thing.

          • tetris11@lemmy.mlEnglish
            8·
            8 months ago

            I can’t wait for the new brand of unboxing videos which entail opening up the device and removing the modem.

          • misanthropy@lemm.eeEnglish
            1·
            8 months ago

            I mean, that’s already a problem. Can’t recall the name but Amazon has their own network they’re working on to allow devices to communicate when they don’t have internet access

            Personally, I opened up my tv years ago and desoldered the microphone that was built into it, and removed the antennas for it’s wifi chip. Total pain in the ass, but it’s worth doing if you like your tinfoil hat.

      • EmperorHenryEnglish
        71·
        8 months ago

        the source matters…If you were to be a bad person and wait for the blu ray rips it wouldn’t have any ads in it.

        Not that I would ever pirate anything…that would be immoral to steal from a giant corporation who’s executives each made millions of dollars while my previous comment has been posted

        • HauntedCupcake@lemmy.worldEnglish
          8·
          8 months ago

          The TV itself is overlaying ads onto content supplied via HDMI. This includes BluRay players and Nvidia Shields.

          I don’t think there was anything mentioning content detection of BluRays to stop playing the ads

          • EmperorHenryEnglish
            1·
            8 months ago

            oh…in that case you’ll need to find someone who knows how to work with the OS of that TV, or just disconnect the TV from the internet and use a separate device through an HDMI.