Roku explores taking over HDMI feeds with ads

[MrSpaceCake]

Summary

Roku has filed a patent for a system to display ads on the TV screen when a pause has been detected from the HDMI output. It could even detect what kind of content is being outputted so it can serve the user more targeted adds

 

Quote

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.

 

I can see uses in the technology to detect pauses in the HDMI output, like turning of the TV after a few minutes to save power or to show a screensaver to prevent burn-in on OLED TVs. It is kinda sad that even when you just want to pause something on the TV Roku immediately whant to shove ads down your throat.

 

Sources

Tweet about the article

The lowpass article

The filed patent (google)

[Donut417]

Utter BULL SHIT. If you ask me. All these greedy companies are doing is giving me a reason to NOT buy their product.

[Beerzerker]

33 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Utter BULL SHIT. If you ask me. All these greedy companies are doing is giving me a reason to NOT buy their product.

Just think about all the ones that have a TV with Roku "Built In"....... Yeah, this will end well.... NOT.

[emosun]

every airport tv showing an ad instead of the flight times......

[Godlygamer23]

The Lowpass article says:

Quote

Randomly interrupting a video game a consumer is playing on their Xbox would almost guarantee that no gamer would ever buy a Roku TV again.

I think most people would either avoid purchasing anything dealing with Roku, or they would get a sharp increase in customer complaints due to showing ads. I haven't purchased a TV in years, but this certainly has me avoiding anything Roku.

[Beerzerker]

14 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

The Lowpass article says:

I think most people would either avoid purchasing anything dealing with Roku, or they would get a sharp increase in customer complaints due to showing ads. I haven't purchased a TV in years, but this certainly has me avoiding anything Roku.

Unfortunately the new home I just bought had an 85' Sony included with the home that has it built in.
Guess I'd need to look into how to disable it or just get another TV.

[Monkey Dust]

You've paused the content because you need to direct your concentration elsewhere. How much are these pause ads going to be worth? Ad revenue has already dropped across pretty much all platforms. Platforms where there is high probability that these ads aren't playing to an empty room.

[Needfuldoer]

Remember when Roku just sold decent hardware? Good times.

 

I'll probably replace my aging Roku 2 with an Apple TV when I finally get tired of dealing with the thing.

[Stahlmann]

8 minutes ago, Monkey Dust said:

You've paused the content because you need to direct your concentration elsewhere. How much are these pause ads going to be worth? Ad revenue has already dropped across pretty much all platforms. Platforms where there is high probability that these ads aren't playing to an empty room.

It's not going to be worth a lot but I guess it's still worth something instead of nothing.

[Kisai]

10 hours ago, emosun said:

every airport tv showing an ad instead of the flight times......

Last I checked, Airports don't use televisions, they use computer monitors designed for this.

 

Not saying they wouldn't, but look at transit monitors:

These are in addition to the next-train time LED panels further down the track.

Every so often one of these information panels dies and sits there with a network boot prompt, which indicates that they are run by a computer somewhere in the station.

 

Airports tend to do the same. Only waiting room lounges ever have other types of equipment, and usually they're permanently running a video feed that is broadcast all over the terminal.

[Monkey Dust]

56 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

It's not going to be worth a lot but I guess it's still worth something instead of nothing.

It will be full of those AI voiced ads for scammy looking, drop-shipped gadgets, that plague YouTube.

[suicidalfranco]

Things I don't have to worry about cause roku doesn't operate in italy, but also cause a PC is better than any "smart" media box/dongle/TV.

 

[Dedayog]

15 hours ago, MrSpaceCake said:

Summary

Roku has filed a patent for a system to display ads on the TV screen when a pause has been detected from the HDMI output. It could even detect what kind of content is being outputted so it can serve the user more targeted adds

 

 

I can see uses in the technology to detect pauses in the HDMI output, like turning of the TV after a few minutes to save power or to show a screensaver to prevent burn-in on OLED TVs. It is kinda sad that even when you just want to pause something on the TV Roku immediately whant to shove ads down your throat.

 

Sources

Tweet about the article

The lowpass article

The filed patent (google)

Other apps do this already on a smaller scale.  Pausing Peacock for instance brings up the ad screen, IIRC.  I think the Roku app does too.

[BrandonTech.05]

I really like roku this is kinda tragic. 

I hope this never sees the light of day.

[Sauron]

17 hours ago, MrSpaceCake said:

according to a recent patent filing.

Just because they filed a patent doesn't mean they plan on doing it. A lot of patents are filed just to prevent competitors from using the idea or "just in case" they want to use it in the future.

[BrandonTech.05]

41 minutes ago, Sauron said:

Just because they filed a patent doesn't mean they plan on doing it. A lot of patents are filed just to prevent competitors from using the idea or "just in case" they want to use it in the future.

Even the fact that they want this patented is pretty uncomfy to me. Unless the technology literally just notices that the image isn't changing. I'm just worried they might just happen to gather other info from the image. 

[Dietrichw]

I keep my TV disconnected from the internet for stuff like this. Used Ethernet for first time setup and installing updates, Ethernet cable was moved back to the Apple tv when done.

[dogwitch]

so what roku wants to do would break tos of the hdmi forum.

 

[StDragon]

If someone wanted to buy a 65 inch TV (OLED or Quantum Dot), can you get that in a dumb version? Meaning, none of the smart crap built in?

[MarkPol88]

12 minutes ago, StDragon said:

If someone wanted to buy a 65 inch TV (OLED or Quantum Dot), can you get that in a dumb version? Meaning, none of the smart crap built in?

What you are asking was somewhat answered by BFGD - big format gaming display.

But the price is usually outrageously high and I think it has nVidia proprietary technology onboard.

I do not know if it is still viable in 2024.

[Sauron]

On 4/5/2024 at 6:21 PM, BrandonTech.05 said:

Even the fact that they want this patented is pretty uncomfy to me. Unless the technology literally just notices that the image isn't changing. I'm just worried they might just happen to gather other info from the image. 

there was a patent a while back about a tv that would require you to say the company name out loud to skip advertisements. that never materialized.

[jagdtigger]

28 minutes ago, Sauron said:

there was a patent a while back about a tv that would require you to say the company name out loud to skip advertisements. that never materialized.

I wouldnt say never, they just waiting for the frogs to get slowly boiled.........

[Sauron]

9 minutes ago, jagdtigger said:

I wouldnt say never, they just waiting for the frogs to get slowly boiled.........

patents run out eventually

[Donut417]

6 hours ago, StDragon said:

If someone wanted to buy a 65 inch TV (OLED or Quantum Dot), can you get that in a dumb version? Meaning, none of the smart crap built in?

There are very few TV manufactures who dont shove smart shit inside their TV's. With that they might not give you all the premium features if that's what you are looking for.

[StDragon]

8 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

There are very few TV manufactures who dont shove smart shit inside their TV's. With that they might not give you all the premium features if that's what you are looking for.

That's very unfortunate.

It's been awhile since I've purchased a TV, but all I want is the basics in software features. I want the TV to have a quality image, with only a tuner inside for over-the-air broadcasting. All other input would be over HDMI with the intelligence only with the boxes delivering the content (Apple TV, Consoles, etc).

I don't want adverts inserted, or my TV spying on me with telemetry uploaded.