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Do you feel like you’re bombarded with ads every time you turn on your TV? That’s okay. TV manufacturers have figured out that they can make more money from ad sales and tracking than from actually selling TVs.

It used to be just commercials, but now there are pop-ups, home screen ads, interactive ads – you name it. I know what’s coming next and have some handy tips to help you survive the ad flood.

How TV manufacturers make real money

Here’s something you probably didn’t know: TV maker VIZIO makes significantly more money from its advertising and data business than from actually selling TVs.

VIZIO’s Platform Plus, which includes advertising and viewer data, generated gross profit of $57.3 million in a three-month period, while the Devices segment, which includes TV sales, generated $25.6 million. VIZIO’s profit from advertising and data is therefore more than double its profit from TV sales.

Big names like Samsung, LG and Roku are also stepping up their advertising campaigns. Manufacturers and advertisers are getting creative to find ways to make that money:

• Force-feeding: Roku recently tested a feature that forces viewers to watch ads when they exit their TV’s screen saver to return to the home screen. They have also filed a patent to display ads over anything else that connects to your TV.
• Under one roof: In November, Amazon upgraded its Fire TVs to include a proprietary operating system, meaning Amazon gets a larger share of the products sold. Interesting fact: Amazon’s advertising business had its most profitable year in 2020.
• Until you drop: Brands like Samsung are developing shoppable ads. Soon you’ll be able to buy things straight from the tube. They’re testing games, QR codes and ads that you can interact with using your remote control.

It won’t be long before you see mega brands like Walmart and Amazon all over your screen. Think about how targeted these ads will be when they combine your purchase And Display histories.

Switch off

It’s nearly impossible to watch TV completely ad-free, but there are a few things you can try.

Stop the snooper

Smart TVs have something called Automatic Content Recognition (ACR). ACR tracks everything you watch to send you targeted ads. Here are the latest steps to stop this technology for today’s most popular brands.

Keep in mind that many TV manufacturers want to discourage you from turning ACR off, and some models may even disable basic features like Internet connectivity if you do so.

Pulley

If you want to completely block ads on your Smart TV, you can change the DNS server settings on your TV or router, or block one by one all the domains that send ads to your Smart TV.

I know this sounds complicated – and it is. The easiest way to do this is to change your TV’s default DNS server to one that can filter out ads and trackers, such as AdGuard DNS.

▶️ Go to your TV’s network settings to change your DNS server. Note: This is not possible on all Smart TVs, but it is possible on most popular brands.

This method only suppresses ads that come directly from your Smart TV’s operating system, such as those that appear on your TV’s home screen, in the App Store, or in the App Launcher. This habit Block ads delivered through streaming platforms. Got all that? Bravo!

Keep your technical knowledge up to date

My popular podcast is called Kim Komando Today. It’s about 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions from all over the country, just like you!

Listen to “Kim Komando Today” on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Sound like a tech pro, even if you’re not! Award-winning and popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon. Listen on over 420 radio stations or get the podcast. And join over 400,000 people who receive her free, five-minute daily email newsletter.

Keywords: Amazon, Internet, operating system, router