this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2024
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/13903698

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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[–] neo@hexbear.net 50 points 1 year ago (9 children)

This is an interesting tidbit.

However, the fact that Roku even explored this points to a major underlying issue: These days, TV makers hardly make any money with their physical products. Roku’s FY 2023 earnings report shows that the company lost $44 million on the sale of smart TVs, streaming players and other devices in 2023. What brings in the bacon are ads and services; Roku generated a gross profit of nearly $1.6 billion with this business segment.

The only purpose of the TV is to show you ads indefinitely. Even when the sale, which is a loss leader, is recouped by ads you'd think, "Hmm. Maybe that's enough of that." But no, for these companies and their insatiable greed it will never be enough.

[–] Goadstool@hexbear.net 38 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (7 children)

What a wonderful system we live under, where the thing that people actually want somehow also isn't worth producing, and the mind-stabbing ads that everybody fucking hates have to be injected into every possible nook in order for production to stay alive. Truly the only possible functional economy.

[–] Greenleaf@hexbear.net 30 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Pro sports in the US are really doing everything they can to cram ads in. They’ve maxed out on commercial breaks so they’re going in another direction: playing surfaces and uniforms are getting more ads on them. If you want to watch the game, you have to see the ads. If you don’t watch sports much I’d encourage you to just watch a game for a few minutes (the NHL especially) and see how bad it’s gotten.

[–] neo@hexbear.net 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's so aggressive. When I was young I could watch the players on the court. Now they have the tracking technology (which... as someone into 3d graphics programming I have to admit, that kind of technology is cool) to project ads into the space dynamically. So the court just has more and more virtual real estate sold off for viewers at home. I'm sure it's all perfectly focus and user tested to ensure the exact right balance between unwatchable garbage and, "Ok, I can notice it and maybe I don't like it but I can barely ignore it."

[–] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 1 points 1 year ago

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:

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