One of the things that I really, really dislike when it comes to watching media is ads. Unfortunately, it appears that the trend is more ads, not less.
This does not happen only in streaming. Microsoft, for example, is pushing ads like there is no tomorrow in Windows.
Streaming, however, seems to be inclined to become the new cable TV, the very thing it set out to replace when it started.
Now it is Amazon again that is pushing the boundaries on its Fire TV platform. After enabling full screen video ads on the platform some time ago, it is now rolling out screensaver ads.
Tip: you can block fullscreen video ads on Amazon Fire TV.
Amazon may display a screensaver after some time of inactivity on part of the user. The change runs a full-screen ad for 30 to 60 seconds before the screensaver is started.
Cord Cutter News reports that the change is rolling out to all recent Fire TV products. The ads show up after a certain amount of inactivity. Amazon shows a full screen video ad then that runs for up to a minute.
Cord Cutter News saw ads for AT&T and Easy Spirit footwear so far. This change appears limited to Fire TV devices in the United States for now. It is probably only a matter of time before it lands in other regions as well.
Closing Words
It will become harder and harder to find streaming TV sticks and devices that do not push advertisement to the screen. There is also a trend towards ad-powered plans. While these are optional for the most part right now, it is clear that the current trend is more ads and not less.
All good and fine, but “as advertisers struggle to reach consumers, they’re increasingly turning to product placement, spending advertising budgets to get their ads into media content in ways that can’t be skipped or muted.”
“Product placement” advertising is quickly becoming the prominent/dominant form for advertisers simply because the medium can’t be ignored, and it works on a much deeper level of the mind, call it the subconscious.
Most viewers don’t even realize they are watching nearly non-stop advertising that saturates a two-hour movie [cartoons, movies, computer games, music videos, even books].
https://altcraft.com/blog/what-is-product-placement
I found this frighteningly funny: “After the release of the ‘Barbie’ movie, purchases of Mattel dolls increased by 25% compared to the previous year. The company prepared for such growth and even released a new collection.”
That’s effective and efficient advertising!
Movies were always selling toys and often are based on toys. Especially children movies. If the movie is good and entertaining, there I see no problem in increase of toy sales. And action movies always prominently displayed cars. Meanwhile, some women’s movies had a good fit with high fashion brand for a while. But that about the only merchandising I take as acceptable, since it was always there, and it naturally fits together with content.
However, I would never watch a sport that has advertisement across the athlete uniform. If an athlete wants to promote the company off the field or have a small logo in the game, it is normal, but huge logos are distracting. The same goes for car races. When the car is all “tattooed” in ads, that’s not ok. It takes too much from sports enjoyment. But the worst are junk food and fast food ad placement. They stick out like a sore thumb.
Right now, Google TV is the least ad intensive. Amazon and Roku have much more ads. I would recommend my recently purchased Walmart’s version of Google TV streaming box (ONN). It’s just $20 for basic version. About 5 minutes for initial setup and 20 minutes if you want to disable some features like voice commands/voice recognition and system updates or set individual apps preferences. You can download some utility or external apps (outside Google Play), but very few of them work. The only two completely working apps that are useful I managed to download are NordVPN and Smart Tube (ad free YouTube alternative). Another YouTube ad free alternative, FreeTube, is working but with very limited functionality. You can not download any browser with ad blocking functionality or stand-alone ad blocker (they will not install).
PS. This post is not an add. No referral links or glowing reviews.
@ boris,
If you don’t mind me asking, what do you mean by standalone adblockers won’t install on your browser? I’ve never come across that problem. Does it have something to do with the country you live in, or the browser you use? And are you talking about browsers on Windows 10 /11, or a browser on your smartphone?
I am taking about Google TV as operating system on streaming boxes (It is a direct competitor to Amazon TV, discussed in this article). It has very few browsers available through Google Play Store. None of those browsers have extension support or content blocking capability, and I never heard of them before. If you want to sideload popular browsers that run on regular Android, you can download them, but they will not install on Google TV OS. The same goes for Android popular standalone ad blocking apps like AdGuard or Blockada. I am using a new steaming box called ONN. Maybe Google branded streaming boxed have more usability, but I highly doubt that.
Never heard of ONN, do you have a link? Why did you pick it over other offers?
You do not need a link. Just search for it at Walmart or Amazon.
Why do I pick it? I have a FireTV. It is such closed Amazon ecosystem with such limited functionality that I had to disconnect it from Internet.
Next, I used Roku Ultimate box. Remote for Roku is really heavy and buttons are not that responsive. There are almost no customization options, some apps are buggy and no utility/browsing apps. Roku also openly says that they sell your channel surfing info and you are not allow to sue them for it.
I was ready for something else for a while. And then I saw Youtube Video from @LinusTechTips. He listed all current option for streaming boxes but his review for ONN was glowing. Main selling points were price for every level box and customization options. Also ONN apparently uses last Android GoogleTV version that allows for downloading and side-loading apps. In reality, it is not that useful since almost nothing that advertised on internet as GoogleTV compatible wants to install on ONN. There are probably better tech people that can force it or find dedicated installers but they are not me. You can also disable system/apps updates, but system/apps can eventually stop properly functioning. This is not Windows where you can stop operating system updates and everything will function for years.
I would still recommend ONN. I love that I can remove some tracking and power saving features. For example, all new remotes are listening on you. On ONN you can disable voice functions all together. Remote is very good. Its almost light as a feather and responds just right. You do not have to heavy click on buttons and at the same time no accidental clicks. You can enable/disable permissions for most apps. You still can download Roku Channel if you still like despite the fact that is from different ecosystem.
Some things about ONN I do not like but those are GoogleTV system problems, not hardware problems. Some apps are still buggy but relatively less than the same ones on Roku. Suggestion system is bad. If you tinker with GoogleTV suggestion they give you ample samples of Movies/TV Shows to swipe right/left depending on your taste. Just like in dating apps. And after I rated couple of hundreds of them, I am still offered Disney+ shows and Female team sports games every single time I am on main page. Good thing that those suggestions are kind of in background, so I do not notice them anymore. My guess that they are paid advertisements just like on every other streaming box. Who cares what user wants when somebody has to pay for maintaining the service. In reality there should be something in between. Offer people ads for upcoming show but only the ones that they would potentially like. Its called targeted advertisement and this is one of very few cases where it is appropriate. It is sad that Google is failing at its own game so badly now.