Roku is continuing to frustrate its customers by finding new ways to insert ads into their viewing experience. Last year, the company began researching ways to insert ads while using its TV’s HDMI ports, and now Roku TVs are showing ads on startup, before the device can even be used.
Ars Technica reports that users began flocking to Reddit to voice their displeasure, with one writing, “I just turned on my Roku and got an … ad for a movie, before I got to the regular Roku home screen.”
The persistent ad banners were bad enough, but automatically playing ads is unacceptable,” wrote another.
TVs are being sold below cost, with more money made on the backend thanks to targeted ads
Upon being contacted for comment, Roku confirmed with Ars Technica that this new “feature” is not only intentional, but may be a sign of further ad-invasions to come.
“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,” a Roku spokesperson said.
Roku’s language in its statement makes it seem that this may just be a test to see how much users will stomach when it comes to inventive new ways to insert advertising into the viewing experience. From the reaction online, it may be reaching its threshold.
