It’s difficult to find a good TV these days that doesn’t have some sort of smart capability. Unfortunately, most TVs when connected to the internet will be exposed to advertisements sponsored by the platform it is using.
Many manufacturers have created their own ad distribution channels within their operating systems. This can significantly disrupt the user’s experience, particularly with pop-up adverts or prominent rotating adverts that can’t be disabled.
To avoid ads on your smart TV, use a TV adblocker, use a network adblocker like Pi-hole, use an external media box or streaming device like Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield, Roku, or a Fire Stick. You should also avoid connecting to the internet if possible. Finally, some TVs allow you to opt out of ads.
Read on to learn more.
Why Do Some Smart TVs Have Ads?
Ads are displayed on smart TVs to generate revenue for businesses.
They, like any other ad system, are primarily used to raise awareness of a product or service and drive traffic. Users can generally delete most commercials from their televisions with little effort.
How To Disable Ads On Smart TVs
There are techniques to stop advertisements on your TV, but they aren’t basic settings that you can change on your television.
You’ll need to use more complicated methods like custom router firmware and third-party ad-blocking DNS servers to block them throughout the entire network.
Adblocker
You can use your smart TV to install ad blockers. You can filter the advertising contents that appear on your smart TV with several apps and adblockers are some of the most trusted tools.
However, these ad blockers can be dangerous because they may contain malware or software with malicious codes that might harm your smart TV system.
If you’re comfortable with the ad blocker you’ve chosen, you can go with this option.
Blocking Ads Using Your Internet Router
This method allows you to ban specific ad URLs so that they do not appear on your television. You can also accomplish this on your laptop or desktop computer instead of using your smart TV.
It’s easier to navigate this setting on a real computer because you can browse with a physical keyboard and pointing device.
To do this, simply use a web browser to access your router’s setup settings. Your router’s configuration and URL are determined by the manufacturer, but you can easily tweak this.
Navigate to the internet and look for filters. Select “Blocked Web Pages (Blacklist)” or “Blocked Sites” and add the frequent ads you receive n your smart Tv.
Use Pi-hole
A Pi-hole is a general-purpose network-wide ad blocker. This means it will protect your network from ads and trackers. In fact, it will do all this without requiring any setup on individual devices.
Many people like using Pi-hole because it blocks ads on any type of software. However, you need to be a bit tech-savvy to do this because you will need to install it on some version of Linux. As its name suggests, Pi-hole may also be installed on Raspberry Pi.
Use a Media Device or Streaming Device
Using a dedicated media box or streaming device is an excellent way to avoid ads on your TV. With a media device, you can avoid the TV interface entirely and you won’t see any ads.
Popular media devices include the Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, Amazon or CCwGTV (Chromecast with Google TV) television.
Opt-Out
Some TVs allow you to opt-out of the ads. This includes many Android TVs that normally have a recommendations service.
Some Samsung TVs allow you to limit ads as well. However, some Samsung TVs don’t. In fact, Samsung has explicitly stated that you cannot disable ads. Some smaller brands may allow you to opt out of ads. For example, unlike Samsung, TCL does allow this.
Best Smart TVs With No Ads
Ads have unfortunately become more widespread on today’s Smart TVs. Most TVs have a small box that you may click to access the contents, while a few have more annoying advertisements.
Some of the best TVs with no ads are listed below:
SONY
The Android interface from Sony is fully ad-free, which is fantastic. There is a row of suggested content, although it may be eliminated entirely on all versions of Sony’s Android TV interface.
On at least some Sony TVs, Google has released an update that adds a row of suggested content. The “Customize Channels” section does not allow you to deactivate these adverts.
VIZIO
The Vizio TVs that have been tested are all ad-free. However, there is a banner that displays suggested content that cannot be turned off.
Vizio has been chastised in the past for secretly collecting and viewing information from customers.
All Vizio TVs tested have done this since 2017, however, there is an option to disable ad tracking and stop the collection of viewers’ data.
How To Avoid Ads on Your Smart TV
To avoid ads on your smart TV, avoid connecting the TV to the internet and using apps that display ads. If you do not connect your TV to the internet, you can update it using a USB instead.
However, you won’t know when there’s an update available, so you’ll have to check the website every now and then.
4K TV With No Ads
VIZIO 50-Inch M7 Series Premium 4K UHD Quantum Color LED HDR Smart TV
With the all-new VIZIO M-Series 4K HDR Smart TV, you can immerse yourself in the limitless possibilities of 4K streaming in award-winning Quantum Color.
- 4K Ultra HD - Over 8 million pixels for breathtaking detail. 4 times the resolution of 1080p!
- Dolby Vision Bright Mode - You’ll see even more lifelike accuracy, color saturation, black detail, and...
- Quantum Color - Next-generation QLED delivers cinematic color with over a billion hues of vibrant color.
For your enjoyment, the M-Series combines a best-in-class Active Full Array Backlight with over a billion colors. Through greater contrast, brighter highlights, and eye-popping color, Dolby Vision’s high dynamic range paired with a full array of backlight gives outstanding image quality, pulling you into the tale.
The IQ Active processor from VIZIO provides faster picture processing and browsing, while the ProGaming Engine with Auto Game Mode, Variable Refresh Rate with AMD FreeSync, and ultra-low input lag boost console gaming to greater levels.
TCL 43-inch 4K UHD Smart LED TV – 43S435, 2021 Model
The Roku 4-Series TV has four times the resolution of Full HD for increased clarity and detail, as well as dozens of streaming channels for endless entertainment. High dynamic range (HDR) technology produces vibrant and realistic colors for a realistic viewing experience and it comes with 4k picture quality.
- Dimensions (w x h x d): TV without stand: 38.2 x 22.4 x3 inches, tv with stand: 38.2 inches x 24.5 inches x...
- Smart functionality delivers all your favorite content with over 500,000 movies and tv episodes, accessible...
- Pairs 4k ultra HD picture clarity with the contrast, color, and detail of high dynamic range (HDR) for the...
Furthermore, some HD movies, episodes, and athletic events are upscaled to near Ultra HD resolution using 4K Upscaling.
From the simple, customized home screen, you can access tens of thousands of streaming channels as well as your cable box. The super-simple remote, which has about half the number of buttons as a typical TV remote, allows you to access your favorite entertainment.
Sony Smart TV Without Ads
Sony X80J 65 Inch TV: 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV
With a natural color and impressive sound, enjoy a 4K HDR smart TV experience. For lifelike picture quality, the X1 4K HDR Processor eliminates digital noise and increases details.
- 4K HDR PROCESSOR X1 – Powerful TV processing that delivers a picture that is smooth and clear, full of rich...
- TRILUMINOS PRO – Reproduces more colors than a conventional TV resulting in picture quality that is natural...
- GOOGLE TV – Seamlessly browse 700,000 plus movies and TV episodes from across your favorite streaming...
Google TV allows you to access all of your favorite streaming apps, while Google Assistant allows you to search for content and operate your smart home with just your voice. Display resolution (H x V, pixels: 3840 x 2160)
How To Block Ads On Smart Tv On YouTube
There are several options for adblocking on your smart TV. These approaches vary depending on the platform and your technical abilities to comprehend your Internet connection and smart TV’s back end.
YouTube Premium
If you prefer to watch YouTube on your smart TV, signing up for YouTube Premium is the easiest method to avoid commercials.
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that removes advertisements from the YouTube experience.
The benefit of YouTube Premium is that it offers different options for different people. You won’t have to wrestle with any settings, and your subscription will support content authors’ ad earnings.
YouTube Premium is $11.99 a month, and for an additional $6.00 per month, you can add up to five (5) family members to your account.
Conclusion
This article will assist customers looking for ad-free televisions in determining the type of product they should purchase, as well as how to remove ads if they decide to purchase a television with advertisements. While many TVs come with annoying ads and commercial content, you can always get TVs that do not come with this. Among these are Vizio and Sony.