Hisense TVs Now Display Ads When You Change Inputs, Boot Up

"Users say certain Hisense TVs now display full‑screen or large-overlay ads when switching HDMI inputs, accessing the home screen, or even browsing channels. They describe these ads as often unskippable and say the prevalence of the marketing material has only grown worse after a software update."

"The Texas Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Hisense, claiming that the brand used Automatic Content Recognition to collect detailed viewing data from millions of users. It also says that the company concealed how this tracking works by using complicated consent procedures and unclear language."

"Many TV makers now rely on advertising and data monetization to keep hardware prices low; still, if the ads block user input and basic navigation, one could argue that the experience isn't worth the low cost of entry."

Hisense smart TV customers are frustrated by aggressive advertising appearing on their devices during HDMI input switching, home screen access, and channel browsing. These ads are often unskippable and have increased following software updates. In response, users are disconnecting their TVs from the internet or blocking ad-related domains at the router level. The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Hisense for using Automatic Content Recognition to collect detailed viewing data from millions of users without clear disclosure, then using this data for targeted advertising. A court order temporarily restricts Hisense from collecting or monetizing viewing data. Hisense claims compliance with privacy regulations and describes the ads as a temporary test, though the practice reflects a broader industry trend of using advertising and data monetization to subsidize hardware costs.

Read at ExtremeTech