Google TV

Google TV has a whole new way to show ads on the homescreen [Gallery]

Ben Schoon | Dec 13 2024 - 6:15 am PT

Google TV isn’t exactly light on homescreen ads to the point where Google has been surveying users regarding the number of ads shown, but now a new ad format is bringing even more.

A new section of the Google TV homescreen has appeared in recent weeks with a multi-purpose design. A banner showing up underneath the “Continue Watching” row leaves room for multiple different types of content. It’s been used to showcase the Home Panel features, as well as recruit users to the new Google TV Advisors program.

It’s also being used for ads.

This new section of the Google TV homescreen is currently being used for a banner ad for the new Bethesda game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The game, available on Xbox (and through streaming), is seeing an ad campaign across the “For You” featured row as well as in a full-width sponsored row which includes some content recommendations related to the game. It’s also using this new section of the homescreen to directly advertise the game to users with a brief game description, a link to watch gameplay on YouTube, and a QR code that can be scanned for further details.

Google TV typically only shows sponsored content through the “For You” slider, but has also occasionally included recommendation rows for ads. This new banner, though, is an entirely new ad format we’ve not seen before, and, at least to our memory, is the first time all three formats have been used for the same ad campaign.

This comes as Google has been asking users directly about the quantity of homescreen ads on Google TV. While this latest format is outside of immediate view, it’s still adding to the already-heavy ad load. It also comes right after the platform started using giant QR codes in ads.

What do you think of this change?