Roku TV ads with buy buttons are starting to show up all over the web. The idea is that you can buy a Roku TV and then use the buttons to get access to different channels and shows. Some of the channels that are being advertised with buy buttons include Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. The idea is that you can save money by buying a Roku TV and using the buy buttons to get access to different channels and shows. There are some potential downsides to using buy buttons in Roku TV ads. For example, it could make it difficult for people who do not have a lot of money to watch certain channels or shows. Additionally, some people might not be interested in using buy buttons because they do not think they will save them any money.
Roku makes much of its money through advertisements in apps on Roku players, and advertisers can already pick from a few different ad formats. The company is now testing “shoppable ads,” which are advertisements with a button to order a certain item directly on your TV. When you click the on-screen button (by pressing ‘OK’ on the remote), a Walmart listing appears with an option to complete the checkout process. No reaching for your phone or computer required.
Roku is pitching this as an alternative to QR codes and other method of sending potential customers to a checkout page. It’s also the same direction that YouTube and Instagram have been moving towards, where videos with certain products have a prominent button that takes you to a store page. At least for now, the ads will be limited to products available from Walmart.
Roku players already have plenty of advertisements, from the buttons on physical remotes to banners on the home screen. That’s the main reason Roku devices and TVs are so cheap — the Roku Express 4K+ is regularly on sale for $30, to name one example. One-click purchase buttons on your TV are just the next step in the never-ending quest for more profitable advertisements. Hopefully that won’t lead to drinking verification cans of Mountain Dew.
Source: Roku
