Roku tests auto-playing Ads before the home Screen loading

Smart TVs such as Amazon, Google, or Roku offer better performance than cable TV. The key feature of smart TVs is the clean and ad-free user experience. However, most users complain that these streaming platforms, including Roku, are gradually experiencing auto-playing advertisements in the form of content recommendations. 

Startup Ads

On Reddit, it was reported that Roku is showing ads before the home screen is loaded. Users noticed it during the “Moana 2” movie when starting a Roku device, they have to face an auto-playing ad before they access to main screen. It is also reported that the ads appear on the startup, and the users can avoid it, or wait for it to play a little, and then close it.

Roku’s Response

Roku has confirmed the auto-playing of ads such as one of Roku’s spokesperson wrote on Reddit;

“The persistent ad banners were bad enough, but automatically plying ads is unacceptable”

 Another Roku’s owner has written on Roku’s community board;

“Just turned on my TV to see a video open the home screen and play some trailer? I hope this was a fluke. I trashed all of my Amazon boxes years ago because of this garbage. If it keeps up, my Roku will be next”

Response to Ars Technica

The auto-playing of ads on startup is just a testing activity. It is confirmed by one of Roku’s spokespersons on Ars Technica. But he doesn’t respond to the request of Ars Technica whether the auto-playing ads activity is permanent or temporary, the affected devices, the reason for this auto-playing decision, or what will be the reaction of customers.

Will Customers Tolerate the Auto-playing of Ads

It is also complained by users that Roku’s screen already has pop-up banners, and it is a frustrating situation. Now, the video ads running automatically on the startup screen couldn’t bearable, as responded by some users on Reddit. The neglecting of ads isn’t possible, because of “personalized recommendations” applied by multiple platforms. A user expressed his feelings on Reddit:

“I could accept the static ad on the side. Forcing a loud commercial is awful,”

Advertisements on Streaming Platforms

If look at other streaming platforms, we come to know all other streaming platforms are making money through running ads such as;

Roku announced its plan of turning TV devices into a “next-generation ad platform” in 2018. Likewise, Amazon has offered Fire TV as a digital billboard, Google is still showing a lot of advertisements on Google TV, and webOS by LG and Tizen by Samsung are also ad-supported devices.

In addition, Roku is trying to explore ways to show ads over your TV’s HDMI input. And claim it is just testing and exploring of new techniques to display brands and programming. If you aren’t satisfied with this new enhancement on your Roku TV, it is better to move to Apple TV 4k, or other third-party tools