Google TV fixes an ad problem by making banners more irritating

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Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

• Google TV ads now show gigantic QR codes that occupy a significant portion of the screen.
• Scanning an ad’s QR code with your smartphone redirects you to the advertiser’s chosen website.
• This change potentially addresses the misleading call-to-action button issue some users have complained about.

Throughout the years, Google has been tweaking how advertising works on its smart TV platform. What started as basic banners promoting content viewers can consume on their streaming devices now lists cars and chicken tenders. In some cases, the call-to-action button on Google TV ads would also mislead users. For example, hitting the purchase button on a PS5 game’s banner would redirect them to its YouTube channel, as the game itself isn’t available to download on the streaming device. To potentially address this problem and offer advertisers more flexibility, Google TV ads now display large QR codes on the screen. The updated format prompts viewers to scan and visit the bundled links using their smartphones.






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