Overview

• Roku has filed a patent for technology that would allow it to display targeted ads on its TVs when HDMI-connected devices are paused.
• The patent suggests methods for detecting when content is paused, including analyzing silent audio signals and unchanged video frames.
• Roku aims to serve relevant ads by using automatic content recognition (ACR) to identify the content being displayed during the pause.
• Critics express concerns about the intrusion of ads into previously ad-free moments, fearing a negative impact on user experience.
• This advertising strategy could potentially increase Roku's revenue, as the company seeks to monetize idle time on its devices.