Isviatkovsky/Getty Images Ads are constantly in our faces and are increasingly present on smart TVs. Companies that own and sell smart TVs, and specifically the operating systems they run on, rely on advertising as a tactic to increase their profits. They make money not only from other companies paying for ad space, but also from people using the TVs. The increased access and versatility of streaming across TVs, devices and apps has increased the need for advertising. The reason your smart TV has so many ads is due to several subscription services that come with more affordable entertainment selections. Smart TVs provide access to multiple streaming services and are available relatively cheaply – like these smart TVs for under $100 on Amazon. Most TV owners use their smart TV to watch multiple streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc. Yet, before even selecting the app in question, users are bombarded with advertisements on the TV’s home screen. Nielsen reported that in the first quarter of 2015, approximately 72.4% of U.S. viewers watched television on ad-supported devices, such as smart TVs, cable or broadcast, while streaming services accounted for 42.2% of the total audience. Advertisers want these numbers to rise with reports that they are spending more on over-the-top ads. Why are you receiving targeted ads on your Smart TV? Rui Xu/Getty Images In the United States, viewers consume a vast majority of television via streaming platforms. When it comes to total viewing time, Americans spend about 10% more time watching cable streaming services. While you watch your smart TV, the content you choose can be tracked. Connected TV (CTV) advertising is an example in which a TV tracks what viewers are watching and on what device they are watching. When viewers stream their favorite new show or movie, their data can be monitored and sent back to the streaming platform. Brands looking to advertise a certain product can use this data to place targeted ads for individual users alongside the content they are watching. For example, if you have an Amazon Fire TV connected to your Amazon account, you might see ads asking you to add a specific item to your cart. You can prevent your Smart TV from spying on your activities, but this may require some digging through your device settings. But you may see ads even before reaching the best streaming platform you are looking for. Your smart TV’s home screen may be filled with ads showing you an upcoming movie to stream, an upcoming show, and even products to buy. How to Protect Your Privacy and Reduce Ads on Your Smart TV Vladans/Getty Images Smart TVs offer an easy way to watch your favorite shows without having to pay for cable or streaming. The fact is, however, that no matter which option you choose, you will see advertisements. But you can control them better on a smart TV. Using something called automatic content recognition, a smart TV can track what you’re watching, including networks, channels, commercials and programs. Depending on the TV you have, such settings may be disabled. Many smart TVs also come with an advertising identifier that can be used to show you more personalized ads. The shows and movies you watch on a smart TV can be used to serve ads personalized to you. You won’t be able to remove or disable this feature, but in some cases you can reset it. This will make ads less personalized, at least for a while – you may need to reset this feature every few months. It’s really not possible to get rid of ads entirely on a smart TV. You may be able to go to Settings and reduce the number of ads served, but they won’t really go away. Whether it’s YouTube ads that impact your TV viewing experience or ads that take up too much screen space, they unfortunately lead nowhere. Post navigation AV Receiver Vs. Stereo receiver: what’s the difference?
Isviatkovsky/Getty Images Ads are constantly in our faces and are increasingly present on smart TVs. Companies that own and sell smart TVs, and specifically the operating systems they run on, rely on advertising as a tactic to increase their profits. They make money not only from other companies paying for ad space, but also from people using the TVs. The increased access and versatility of streaming across TVs, devices and apps has increased the need for advertising. The reason your smart TV has so many ads is due to several subscription services that come with more affordable entertainment selections. Smart TVs provide access to multiple streaming services and are available relatively cheaply – like these smart TVs for under $100 on Amazon. Most TV owners use their smart TV to watch multiple streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc. Yet, before even selecting the app in question, users are bombarded with advertisements on the TV’s home screen. Nielsen reported that in the first quarter of 2015, approximately 72.4% of U.S. viewers watched television on ad-supported devices, such as smart TVs, cable or broadcast, while streaming services accounted for 42.2% of the total audience. Advertisers want these numbers to rise with reports that they are spending more on over-the-top ads. Why are you receiving targeted ads on your Smart TV? Rui Xu/Getty Images In the United States, viewers consume a vast majority of television via streaming platforms. When it comes to total viewing time, Americans spend about 10% more time watching cable streaming services. While you watch your smart TV, the content you choose can be tracked. Connected TV (CTV) advertising is an example in which a TV tracks what viewers are watching and on what device they are watching. When viewers stream their favorite new show or movie, their data can be monitored and sent back to the streaming platform. Brands looking to advertise a certain product can use this data to place targeted ads for individual users alongside the content they are watching. For example, if you have an Amazon Fire TV connected to your Amazon account, you might see ads asking you to add a specific item to your cart. You can prevent your Smart TV from spying on your activities, but this may require some digging through your device settings. But you may see ads even before reaching the best streaming platform you are looking for. Your smart TV’s home screen may be filled with ads showing you an upcoming movie to stream, an upcoming show, and even products to buy. How to Protect Your Privacy and Reduce Ads on Your Smart TV Vladans/Getty Images Smart TVs offer an easy way to watch your favorite shows without having to pay for cable or streaming. The fact is, however, that no matter which option you choose, you will see advertisements. But you can control them better on a smart TV. Using something called automatic content recognition, a smart TV can track what you’re watching, including networks, channels, commercials and programs. Depending on the TV you have, such settings may be disabled. Many smart TVs also come with an advertising identifier that can be used to show you more personalized ads. The shows and movies you watch on a smart TV can be used to serve ads personalized to you. You won’t be able to remove or disable this feature, but in some cases you can reset it. This will make ads less personalized, at least for a while – you may need to reset this feature every few months. It’s really not possible to get rid of ads entirely on a smart TV. You may be able to go to Settings and reduce the number of ads served, but they won’t really go away. Whether it’s YouTube ads that impact your TV viewing experience or ads that take up too much screen space, they unfortunately lead nowhere.
