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.

  • flop_leash_973@lemmy.worldEnglish
    68·
    8 months ago

    It seems like so long that Roku was not a horrible company. Simple little box for a good price with a small static ad on the home screen to make money.

    Seems like a lifetime ago.

      • Aasikki@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        131·
        8 months ago

        And those have taken over all the damn tv remotes. I designed and 3D printed a replacement faceplate for my Samsung tv’s remote that hides them, out of retaliation (they were in a spot where I accidentally hit the netflix button when trying to pause what I was watching, which was annoying af).

      • Kraiden@kbin.run
        6·
        8 months ago

        it’s on the chromecast remote as well now. Is there an open source chromecast alternative?

        • Jesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          8 months ago

          Yeah, just saying Roku is has been the worst offender of this. Other manufacturers restricted these promotional buttons to streaming services that have large user bases. Roku sells those buttons to anyone who pays enough, and their remotes famously feature services that people don’t care about.