Australian broadcaster SBS fights ad-blockers with Switch Media’s AdEase
Australian streaming content company Switch Media announced yesterday it is rolling out its anti-adblocking technology across SBS’s On-Demand services.
The announcement:
Australian broadcaster SBS fights ad-blockers with Switch Media’s AdEase – to be showcased at US National Association of Broadcasters event
Australian public broadcaster the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has commenced rolling out Switch Media’s new anti-ad blocking technology across its SBS On Demand services including their network website, iOS and Android apps.
It’s one thing to make ads invisible to ad blockers, but what about to SBS’s own playback?
If AdEase can prevent SBS streams stopping once they reach the first ad, then starting again at the start of the program, it may be of some value.
But whether it works or not, it won’t be long until the first ad blocker company comes up with counter-measures.
I know when a contract can be enforced and cannot be enforced. In reference to ad-blockers, the end user has the determining right if they want ads or not, it is their system. Additionally, Eyeo who makes Ad Block Plus was in court again and won as expected . Excerpt “ The judge said it is perfectly legal for people to install ad-blockers in their browsers as publishers have no contracts with their readers that insist they have to look at the ads.” And this is 100% accurate – if a contract does not exist between the site and the user the no ads can be enforced or pushed without consent. Full article here: http://fortune.com/2016/03/30/.....ddeutsche/
Additionally, The ‘implied contract’ theory that we’ve agreed to view ads in exchange for free content is void because we can’t review the terms first — as soon as we follow a link, our browsers load, execute, transfer, and track everything embedded by the publisher. Our data, battery life, time, and privacy are taken by a blank check with no recourse.” Every time you visit a website with an ad, it’s an implied contract, but since you cannot view all the terms it’s void and cannot be enforced. However under contract law, the only valid contracts are those signed in ink and both parties. Something you cannot do online, and these “bluff statements” like “by continuing to use this site you agree or our terms and conditions” are not legal either.
Therefore no matter the ad delivery method, if no contract exists (signed in ink by both parties), then legally the end user does not have to accepts ads. Just proves never accept anything at face value.
It is sad to see a taxpayer funded organisation being ground down to a commercial broadcaster. My choice is to switch off. SBS is on the government chopping block. However Imagine a world with only Murdoch services…nightmarish