Roku Patents Tech to Display Ads During Paused HDMI Inputs Across Devices
• Roku patented tech to display ads on paused/idle HDMI inputs, capitalizing on ad revenue from game consoles, Blu-ray players, etc.
• This could allow ads throughout the TV experience, using clues like audio silence to know when HDMI input is paused
• Follows a trend of streaming device makers pushing boundaries on ad tolerance, even as device costs drop
• Amazon and Google adopting similar ad tactics across their streaming devices despite premium device costs
• Outlook is bleak for escaping ads on smart TV platforms, even as Roku TVs offer dependability and familiarity