Showing Ads Before Showing The Actual Interface? That’s Cool Roku…
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Roku is undoubtedly one of the popular streaming TV platforms that competes with the likes of Fire TV. While Roku remains the favorite of many due to its simplicity and ease of use, it’s now upsetting users by testing auto-playing ads over the last few days.
Roku’s ongoing test for auto-playing video ads has upset many users
Ads aren’t a new thing when we talk in the context of streaming TV. However, ads popping up on your TV even before the home screen loads can be quite frustrating. That’s exactly what’s happening with Roku users these days. Folks over at Ars Technica first reported spotting Reddit posts from users who claimed to see auto-playing ads. The worst part is that those ads are visible before Roku OS’s home screen loads.
Although Roku often shows ads around the home screen, the new test forces users to sit through video ads during the usual setup. On Monday, a Reddit user @jehsickkuhhh posted in the subreddit r/Roku, noting, “…just turned on my Roku and got an unskippable ad for a movie, before I got to the regular Roku home screen.”
A quick scroll through the comments on the post shows that many Roku users are affected by the auto-playing ads test. Users are reportedly seeing ads for the movie Moana 2, which has been streaming on Disney+ since last week. Although the ad reportedly includes a close option, some users have mentioned not seeing it.
A Roku spokesperson has confirmed the publication that it isn’t a mistake. The annoying auto-playing Roku ads are in fact part of an official test. A statement issued by Roku’s spokesperson reads, “Our recent test is just the latest example, as we explore new ways to showcase brands and programming while still providing a delightful and simple user experience.”
It’s unclear whether the ads are here to stay permanently
The company has been mum on whether the auto-playing ads will be a permanent part of the Roku OS. It hasn’t said anything about which devices are affected or why it decided to use auto-playing ads. No wonder, Roku users are fuming over these ads and are hoping this is just a temporary thing.
