“Awful”: Roku tests autoplaying ads loading before the home screen

They're working hard to make sure piracy provides the best experience.

Not a surprise for Roku. The company has been getting progressively worse in the last few years and their enshittification is accelerating. Their recent forced download of an update that requires users to agree to arbitration to even use our TVs was intended to ultimately take control of those TVs completely away from the people who own them.

Right now it's possible to block Roku's static ads and presumably the autoplaying ones using a local DNS server like Adblock Home or Pihole, but it's only a matter of time before Roku blocks everything unless we watch the ads they are trying force down our throats. I'm already in the process of obsoleting all 5 of our Roku devices.

It has taken Roku years to build up enough market share to allow this kind of behavior and it will take years for the market to abandon them. Their executives will claim ignorance as to why users are walking away when it finally hits their bottom line.

Im literally willing to ditch the device and cancel all streaming services because of this. When I turn on my TV I don’t want to be forced to consume ads when I haven’t been provided with anything in return.

Can i pleace find a decent TV without smart-capabilitys? I just want HDMI thats it

For years I was a big fan of Roku. It represented a better value alternative from the big corporations pushing their own agenda like Google, Apple, Samsung, and Amazon. They made products that were intuitive and user oriented and carved out a very nice and stable market share for themselves because of it. Now they're just leveraging their hardware relationships to transform the software into something terrible.

I used to look for tvs with Roku built in. Now I've disabled Roku features from my smart TVS and use a separate streaming device.

Don't connect your Roku to the internet.

Shit. I got a Roku TV. That's one big fucking stick to toss.

Almost downvoted instinctually as a reaction to the headline. Visceral reaction. I hate this beyond belief.

I have a Roku ultra in my kid's room.

I do not want her subjected to ads when she turns on the TV.

This is unacceptable to me and I will be replacing all my Rokus immediately.

Roku had the best smart tv ui. I was seriously bummed when the ads started rolling in a few years ago.

I want an open source streaming client, but from what I hear DRM gets in the way of that.

Looking around Roku's site, I found this email address: AdsPR@roku.com

I'm planning on giving them a brief but firm "oh hell no" letter. I wonder how many others will do the same 🤔

this is the worst, next they're gonna put ads on cars

Apple TV for the win

So glad I blocked my TVs access to the Internet at the router level. Never complainrd about not setting up a network if the network doesn't work.

If this happens on my box I'll be taking them to small claims court and let you all know how it goes...

Uh huh, but collecting Blurays is just silly I've been told.

So glad I ditched Roku. My modified Onn box (with an open source, ad-free launcher) is so much better.

They just did this to me. How can I tell them they failed this test?

If you force Ads then I will replace your equipment. The only reason I use Roku is to avoid the Ads built into "smart TVs"

Watching Roku steadily decline from a trusted brand has been something. For a time, they were the alternative to the other bigger more Ad driven companies. I’ve owned 2 and used to enjoy them overall. Now, they’ve slowly become just as bad or worse than their competitors in some regards. When history looks back on streaming boxes as a failed delivery method, Roku might just get to be the example in the forefront.

I only ever tried using a Roku so I could stream my PC to my smart TV, but it turns out there's MASSIVE latency. Of course I returned it. If I had to deal with that AND ADS, I would have set that shit on fire

Bought a Roku back in 2020 or 2021 because the Apple TV was more expensive.

Now I know why.

For what it is worth, I have Roku set up as a REGEX in my Pi-hole so for the most part, any of this nonsense is completely blocked on my Roku.

Needless to say, I shouldn’t have to do this shit with a device I paid for and mainly use for Plex streaming.

isn't their a foss os you can flash on your tv?

PiHole.

I was thinking about changing my Roku TV anyway. "Dumb" TVs are the future for me.

Reasons I turn off WiFi on any TV I buy and use a streaming box

Roku is the one that bricked peoples TVs unless they agreed to their new terms of service.

I have a vero-V but honestly the apps are lack luster. Its amazing if you have your own library of content. I saw my first homescreen add on roku yesterday. I am pissed.

My vizio tv auto plays shows, ads, and light music if you leave it idling too long after you turn it on. Moving the remote down just once disables it till the next time your on home screen.

Aaargh matey!

Roku box: Bye, bitch!

I think this happened to me last night with an ad for Moana 2 playing automatically. I just assumed I accidentally hit a button. I was on the home screen but it enlarged and played in the basically the top quarter of the screen. I hit Close and it closed.

Also, the Netflix app is absolute garbage on the TCL Roku TVs. Constantly freezes and crashes, sometimes while not even try to rewind or pause/resume. It just decides its had enough and causes the TV to restart lol.

It’s 1000% worth it to spend a little extra on a TV to get one that runs Google TV. Android is just superior compared to Roku in this regard. I actually have an Apple TV 4K as well, and regularly switch between the two.

Whomp whomp. You get what you pay for.

Guess it's time to either flash my Roku with something that isn't shit or just make a dedicated media box myself.

thank goodness pi hole can block the majority of roku ad sources

I'm just glad I've still got my MythTV running.

• Disconnect from network
• Factory reset
• Use HDMI to plug into a device that actually respects your privacy and does what you want (Jellyfin, Plex, Pihole for even more goodness, and simply run other streaming services via privacy enhanced browser)
• Enjoy life without enshittified asshole OS no one asked for by going back to a time that was better.

EDIT: I haven't tested this as of yet, but it seems like a decent option for converting and old PC (or if you have a RaspPi) into a media platform with comparable functionality: https://arcadian.cloud/pi/2023/04/27/easily-turn-your-raspberry-pi-into-a-smart-tv/

none of this is a big deal, simply never connect your TV to the internet

Think of any invasive streaming devices in your house. Samsung, Google Chromecast, ATV, LG etc. Roku is by far the worst.

This kind of garbage is why I've never connected my tcl tv with bulit in roku to the internet.

Won't hurt my feelings to throw their shit tv right in the trash.

Ughhh just unsubscibe

The only reason I still use my roku is because it has sound leveling capabilities that is much better than anything else I have. I use my PC for just about everything but recently Sling stopped working on the PC or at least the DVR is directing me to download some app? Also Paramount doesn't handle 60fps content (sports) on the PC very well, it stutters a lot.

Windows has sound leveling but I haven't had much luck with it when its really needed. My receiver is old and has only rudimentary sound leveling.

Libreelec on raspberry pi 4 (Kodi) works for me but it really needs a new YouTube app. That's the only issue really

So this is the Moana garbage?

I have a pihole blocking most of it, but these were playing.

There's surely a way to jailbreak these things.