Forced Sponsored Content on Android TV

Oceanus · December 19, 2020

Hi all, first post on the forums, please be kind if this has been discussed before or is in the wrong spot, but:

Over the last, we'll say year, Android TV, perhaps already knowingly to many of you, has been, and we won't put it lightly, forcing users to view sponsored content. Up until recently it was as simple as customizing your channels to hide it. Then a new "extremely" large sponsor spot took up the top of the main screen. Of course, this could still be bypassed by uninstalling updates for a specific system app. Then it got harder and the only way to remove sponsored content was to factory rest the TV and disallow auto updates in the play store. This, however, has ceased to be effective within the last few days.

Now, I am absolutely, furiously mad. See, I would have NEVER purchased a TV that forced ads down my throat every time I turned it on. But with some of my devices being 6+ years old, what course of action do I really have? Do I complain to Google or Sony and have my complaints largely fall on deaf ears? Do I try to shame them on social media? Start a petition? What wouldn't be a waste of time?

In any case, and in the meantime, does anyone have any idea how to navigate around this issue that I'm unaware of? (Other than trying to ignore the ads, don't be that guy)

Edited December 19, 2020 by Oceanus
Spelling/grammar

paddy-stone · December 19, 2020

Pihole an option?

Other than that, maybe don't use the androidtv part of the TV, buy a chromecast, nvidia shield or similar?

I have a shield and have to say I don't remember seeing any ads on mine at all, and I use it exclusively, usually with emby, but have used other aps too... you can also customise your homescreen to only show things you want to see there.