Roku TVs Experimenting with Displaying Ads on Connected Devices: Patent Reveals New Advertising Strategy

Roku TV Sets May Include Ads Over Your Connected Devices

Roku TV sets are considering a new approach to display ads, potentially extending beyond home and menu screens and screensavers, to devices connected via HDMI such as cable boxes, game consoles, and PCs. This move, as described in a patent application, would allow Roku to insert relevant ads when users pause their connected devices.

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/ The proposed Roku device would include multiple modules dedicated to detecting and analyzing onscreen content and inserting ads over top of an existing video stream.

Roku

Advertising Expansion and Revenue Potential

Roku’s desire to include ads over connected devices stems from its goal of driving increased revenue through expanding advertising capabilities. This move could provide Roku with an additional revenue stream by soliciting more advertisers to spend on its streaming platforms.

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/ Roku’s proposed workflow for detecting paused content and displaying an ad on top of it.

Roku

Possible Implementation and Future Developments

The patent application does not guarantee that this feature will become a reality. Roku will have to consider various factors before implementing this technology, such as cost, technical challenges, and potential backlash from users and partners. It remains uncertain whether existing Roku TVs can support this feature with a software update or if it would necessitate newer hardware. Roku’s commitment to innovation and revenue generation, however, leaves open the possibility of tangible ad expansion in the future.