The move embodies how ads are a growing and virtually inescapable part of the TV-viewing experience—even when you’re not watching anything.

As you might have expected, LG didn’t make a big, splashy announcement to consumers or LG TV owners about this new ad format. Instead, and ostensibly strategically, the September 5 announcement was made to advertisers. LG appears to know that screensaver ads aren’t a feature that excites users. Still, it and many other TV makers are happy to shove ads into the software of already-purchased devices.

LG TV owners may have already spotted the ads or learned about them via FlatpanelsHD, which today reported seeing a full-screen ad on the screensaver for LG’s latest flagship TV, the G4. “The ad appeared before the conventional screensaver kicks in," per the website, “and was localized to the region the TV was set to.”

LG has put these ads on by default, according to FlatpanelsHD, but you can disable them in the TVs’ settings. Still, the introduction of ads during a screensaver, shown during a pause in TV viewing that some TVs use as an opportunity to show art or personal photos that amplify the space, illustrates the high priority that ad dollars and tracking have among today’s TVs—even new top-of-the-line ones.

The addition of screensaver ads that users can disable may sound like a comparatively smaller disruption as far as TV operating system (OS) ads go. But the incorporation of new ad formats into TV OSes’ various nooks and crannies is a slippery slope. Some TV brands are even centered more on ads than selling hardware. Unfortunately, it’s up to OS operators and TV OEMs to decide where the line is, including for already-purchased TVs. User and advertiser interests don’t always align, making TV streaming platforms without third-party ads, such as Apple TV, increasingly scarce gems.

      • normalexit@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Thank you daddy capitalism.

        I hope I can continue to make the smart TV dumb by never giving it network access. When that fails I’ll have to hope the pihole handles some of it. The other fun option might be to put it on a VPN in the EU and hope that it enables some gdpr options.

        Either way you’re right, it’s likely inevitable.

      • cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de
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        2 months ago

        There are some large computer monitors, depending on how big of a screen you want. There’s no smart crap in those, just DisplayPort and HDMI inputs.

          • reshuffle6655@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            2 months ago

            Depends on your definition of large; I’ve got an amazing 48" 4k 120hz OLED monitor that does no “smart” features.

            Alienware does a 55" that I think is the largest available rn though I can’t vouch for the inclusion or lack of ads or smart features.

  • h54@programming.dev
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    2 months ago

    Not only do I use pi-hole, my so called smart TV never connects to the Internet in my household. Hell, I don’t buy any smart devices period.

    • Evotech@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Anything other than the native TV experience. I use a Nvidia shield personally.

      It’s not perfect but at least I don’t get ads for anything other than a few Disney shows in a small bar

  • Jesus@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Oh the irony. The site reporting LG’s ads wants people to remove ad blockers.