Need some input concerning movie apps, i.e. Prime, Hulu etc.

[davinci74]

Hello World! So I'm trying to get some opinions about all of these movie apps that are now inserting commercials into movies, t.v. shows and whatever else. So now they want to charge an additional fee, up to $8 on some apps to remove commercials. Everyone of them is like this. That never use to be the case. I feel this is unfair to customers to have to pay an additional fee to not have commercials. So if enough people feel the same way I'm am going to see if I can petition someone, I don't know who, to see if something can be done about this. Any suggestions and opinions or criticism, is welcomed. Thanks guys and have a phenomenal day!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Egzoset]

Salutations,

First things 1st, having converted from Windows to Linux i'd have to point out that part of my TV hours got reclaimed by some more creative hobby...



Then this topic also reminds me about paying Crave just to watch Star Trek Picard when it came out, only to conclude their sound options were too limited to deal with such constant agression because of today's audio anyway. That same year, i think, i happened to purchase an "intelligent" TV too, which actually supported Crave (in vain)... The one programmation source i came to appreciate was Pluto but now it seems my internet feed somehow became "too slow" while it's still OKay for viewing by Linux (...), except i'm limited to 1280x720 resolution and that's a non-issue since i find it accomodating enough, especially on a NoteBook working as portable wireless TV.

Radio-frequency stations of the previous century were satisfied to install a network of antennas and finance their operations with a modest amount of publicity, then gradually moved to distributors who wanted their cut besides offering exclusive premium channels unavailable without a cable subscription. As a result the later transition to digital TV only offers very few stations as a marginal alternative while local news content plumets, making room for even further centralization. Meanwhile publicity continues to advertize products poorly addressing our needs after rendering our remote controls useless; even substitutes as YouTube finally seem determined to prove annoying, so i'd say THEY are killing it despite replacing antennas with subscriptions, on top of our pre-paid over-billed/over-taxed internet access, if not accounts. Yet these indu$trials now collect their client's e-mail address even before one can decide if it's really worth providing credit card information over some "free" trial registration...

Quite frankly, i'd find iP-TV as from Pluto acceptable if the original 20~50 years old ad framing weren't replaced by a system which inserts advertising at the most inconvenient moments, and/or 7 in a row as with Plex, Tubi and many more siblings serving me ads in a foreign language from a distant country. Right into the golden age of a TV/computer revolution! And i ain't commented about the ill effects on elders of leaving it on a 24h news channel just yet!!

 

[davinci74]

Exceedingly informative. You took me back in time on a time travel moment....... But yeah, I feel like these tech giants are starting to exploit my billfold. And It's not like they just want a dollar or two to remove ads it's between six and eight dollars. It's ludicrous. Subway has a huge class action law suit for there false advertising and exploiting customers. Something has to be done with some of these companies..

 

[APTI]

you can complain to them and petition all you want it will not do anything. Money speaks louder than annoyed customers that will pay them even when annoyed because they are all sheep. I think you would have better use of your time building something of your own that works the way you like. Yes I am saying if you do not like the services out there (I agree with you by the way) then make one that puts them to shame.

 

[Egzoset]

Years ago i got an HDHomeRun network TV tuner connected to my WiFi router, already, and that's compatible with Linux on top of Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone/iPad... Do i need to start a private TV station too?

 

[f33dm3bits]

Hello World! So I'm trying to get some opinions about all of these movie apps that are now inserting commercials into movies, t.v. shows and whatever else. So now they want to charge an additional fee, up to $8 on some apps to remove commercials. Everyone of them is like this. That never use to be the case.

That's the reason why I stopped with video streaming services, because it's gotten insane and every company seems to have started their own streaming service. I get my content from other sources now.

 

[davinci74]

you can complain to them and petition all you want it will not do anything. Money speaks louder than annoyed customers that will pay them even when annoyed because they are all sheep. I think you would have better use of your time building something of your own that works the way you like. Yes I am saying if you do not like the services out there (I agree with you by the way) then make one that puts them to shame.

Yes I understand buddy. I have a subscription with ipvanish and I can stream anything I want now. We just got fiber optics in my neighborhood and now streaming or using the internet is super fast now. I'm impressed with spectrum. Was using Hughes Net satellite internet which was, concerning reliability, acceptable, for living way out in the sticks. I'm learning Python at the moment so eventually I'll be able to build something like you suggested.

 

[TechnoJunky]

I'm assuming that since you're posting to a Linux forum that you're watching these TV/Movie apps on Linux. I could be wrong, the particular forum is "off topic". But if you are watching via your computer you can install ad blockers to your browser and these do block commercials. I use uBlock Origin. Now of course Google hates this and is making it extremely difficult for those that use Chrome. My suggestion is to use Firefox. It's a great browser and is an advocate for your privacy and they won't be implementing things to block your ad blockers from working.

 

[Egzoset]

Try to make sense out of these two paradoxal samples captured using VLC:

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Local - Also free with ads via local ATSC antenna (no 3rd-party), serialized URL​

​

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Remote - No free antenna option, 3rd-party distribution, plain non-serialized URL​

As if it's got to ease ads detection while denying legit revenue, because of 3rd-parties...



The local one is Radio-Canada which is supposed to be nationally available!

 

[MuttMutt]

Personally I HATE commercials... 99.8% of the time they are 100% useless for me. I "cut the cord" about 9 years ago for the last time. Since then I mainly rely on Plex with my server for what I want to watch or listen to for that matter.

We do have some Roku boxes that we use with Plex and from time to time something will get streamed that way but using the boxes (not the Roku TV with the "live tv" applet) and Roku's streaming app my Router automatically blocks the commercials. Basically the DNS automatically loads a bunch of blocklists for ads and your basic internet junk and prevents things from even being requested. You can do something similar with a Raspberry Pi and PiHole if you are stuck using an ISP router, I was lucky enough to get a Calix 803G from my ISP and run OpnSense for a router.

 

[Egzoset]

Personally I HATE commercials...

Most of the time it's the ads people who seem to hate us first, like when they keep multiplying alcohol life-style publicity on top of Christmass shoping, fast food and more. Yet i sort of appreciate being informed about local events, go figure i may not even mind being told about some charity campaign for terminally-ill children, etc. What's really annoying is like while watching Star Trek 'The Warth of Khan' (once again...) they "happen" to cut it just as the vilain is about to take his last breath, before his wrecked ship finally blows up - too bad, when regular programming returns all that's left of this epic key moment is a little sparkling, not even an impressive one, as if someone out there really hates trekies indeed!

The solution IMO is naïvely simple anyway: stream it without modification including the ads as if that was received from an antenna, with VBS data stripped or similar... Which doesn't account for the intermediary distributors who insist so agressively to get their "fair" share - then end up loosing it all by their own fault because i ain't watching anymore, imagine when their down-counter begins at 7 ads!!

...my Router automatically blocks the commercials.

Well i'd start to feel an urge to find some more suitable hobby at such point, perhaps it will come later, eventually. In any case i won't buy a hummer only because i was told how great that is to ride in the wild.

 

[KGIII]

In any case i won't buy a hummer only because i was told how great that is to ride in the wild.

Off-topic:

I was stationed in Quantico during my 2nd stint and was a motor vehicle operator for the USMC. Maybe because of my age, maybe because of chance, I was one of the people who tested the HMMWV (Humvee) to decide if it was fit for service.

It had some faults but they're very capable vehicles.

Buying one from an auction today is a hit or miss thing... I couldn't recommend buying one unless you are prepared to invest a lot of time and money getting it back into shape.

The 'secret' is long-since out there and finding a good one for dirt cheap is no longer all that realistic. The time to buy one at auction was ten years ago. The examples being sold today are clapped out and no longer a good value proposition - unless you get really lucky.

 

[Egzoset]

Off-topic...

Well, this is the « Off Topic » zone and we can all read « Super Moderator » above your other badges.

However it's the matter of TV ads which made me post, so if i'm expected to react any further that shall be about getting a dozen of those in 1 single burst with nearly 2 thirds dedicated to self-advertizing when there's already on-line TV schedules doing just that. Worse, the remaining 1 third typically sub-divides in a way that leaves very little space to actual profit-making businesses... Oddly enough such observational thought occurred to me during a segment explaining how urgent it has become to save our local news, distributed via ATSC waves captured by a window antenna (free of ads suppression).

 

[GatorsFan]

You can also try to download the video by using Video Download Helper (plugin for Firefox) or YT-DLP here https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp those are what I use and once downloaded they are commercial free, they do not work on DRM Encryption sites

 

[Gainer]

Firefox. It's a great browser and is an advocate for your privacy and they won't be implementing things to block your ad blockers from working

I stumbles across this thread – which mentioned Firefox “ won't be implementing things to block your ad blockers…”, TV and commercials.

Why did I read the entire thread? Because I’m not sure that is entirely correct – by accident or intent. Below is what I ran into… some blocked preferences, pop ups and occasional commercials seemingly a by-product or result.

Interesting topic, good writing and civil, well-spoken discussion. While I agree in spirit with 97.9% of the opinions shared here regarding obnoxious commercial advertising, haunting me still to this day are the ones that were on my 12 inch round black and white TV. Mind Numbing!

When I installed LM22 Cinnamon a month ago, Firefox along with other applications were already installed. Nice for me - the Newbie. The other application I observed and mention here is LibreOffice. I have used both for years and personally, I have found Firefox a very useful tool. Also, LibreOffice. Arguably, two of the best, my go-to apps.

Most of my observations and concerns I set aside over the past month due to my Newbie status. So very little “documentation”. I only mention three things I can address because of direct observations and are on-going.

Firefox first: After setting my Firewall ON, very early I jumped into Firefox Settings, configured everything the way I have for years and off to learn Linux Mint. I did notice a disturbing message at the top of the Settings page.

“Your browser is being managed by your organization”.

I am not attached to or with any organization, so that seemed a bit odd. For a few weeks I forgot all about that message. It seemed like everything was OK. Cannot really put my finger on it, didn’t make notes, but somethings didn’t work as I had experienced over the years.

When I could not explain the subtle irritations with band width, ISP, network settings, hardware problems, etc, I didn’t know what I was looking for so I searched “symptoms”. I ended up rechecking the same list of “probables” to no avail.

Last effort to identify a cause/solution I returned to Firefox Settings, copied the Firefox message at the top of the Settings page and searched it. Wow!

I think I have now read most content on this subject going back 2-3 years. Hours upon hours upon hours. Days. Many are not civil discussions. Some arguments have lasted close to a year.

Years and hundreds of arguments, solutions, & mean-spirited accusations. Many claiming to be the “absolute authority” ending up being contradicted by the another “absolute authority”.

Since I was not getting anywhere following the “battles” and non-solutions and so many rude people…. Why not go to the source? Linux Mint website. There I read the full Linux Mint statement. Seems pretty darn clear to me. But f you glance over or “fast-read” the couple of pages expecting a “black & white” statement, it may not be written to your expectations.

If you are unfamiliar with “Corporate-Agreements”, NDA’s and “Contract-Speak” – it can be subtle. It is only two pages at most. Linux Mint and Firefox are two large groups that have great interests in their products, both seem to be responsible, and seem to want to provide value to users.

They came together with an opportunity to increase even greater value for users. Along with possible challenges.

Each group has their own “speak” concerning their own interests, and rightfully so. Also, coming together, obligations to each other, including even some possible “protection” from each other.

There are only 3 reasons I bring this up. This is what I have experienced.

1. As I mentioned, about a month ago, when I installed LM22 Cinnamon it came with Firefox and LibreOffice installed.
On the Help→About Firefox window, it clearly states:
Mozilla Firefox for Linux Mint
mint-001 – 1.0
“Updates disabled by your organization”
128.0 (64 bit)

Regardless of claims (by some) that the message does not mean what it says, and that Firefox is being updated, I found this to be incorrect - in my case - for what ever reason. All of my other installations of Firefox are currently version 132.xx. The Linux Mint version has not changed from 128.0 for the last month.

Also, I realized a couple of weeks ago that two things were not happening.

A - I prefer to know when a browser update is available and execute it on my schedule and have time to review what was done. I was not getting the popup telling me there is a new version of Firefox.

In one discussion an “authority?” (self-proclaimed?) claimed the fix was in my ability to change setting(s)
in Firefox->About:Config. When asked which one(s) of the hundreds (thousands?) to change, basically said “go figure it out”. That wa helpful.

B - Some of my security preferences were not kept persistent. In fact, some settings were not able to be made. I could choose my preferences and when I exited the Settings page they returned to what Firefox wanted. Others, now that I had some idea what to look for, would switch back while I watched.

“Firefox is a great browser and is an advocate for your privacy.” It appears that due to various security differences between Mint and Firefox we ended up with a bit different Firefox preinstalled. One in which much of History is kept against my choice.

No way to change, no way to delete manually or automatically delete (upon exit). They certainly state clearly (I paraphrase) that by keeping your history it helps them serve you better. Where have I heard that before?

Buried in all the reading was some seemingly “technical / security” points that the two groups could not seem to resolve. I understood the descriptive words stating the challenges and I could “reason-out” why. I cannot choose my privacy expectations.

2. LibreOffice. Again, much like Firefox some settings could not be changed, some could not be reversed. As a user of LibreOffice for many years, I had not been faced with these – uh, restrictions in the past. So is this because or due to the combining with Linux Mint – much like Firefox? Or as the user, in a new environment, misunderstanding what I observe.

3. Back to Firefox. About the topic at hand...Video/Streaming Content –

During football season (in the USA), Thursday Night Football streams through Amazon. Yes, as to the topic “Free” with subscription and of course Commercials. Typically, I get settled on the couch and get ready to put that mayhem across the 75” screen – and Yes, commercials.

This past Thursday my wife was YT’ing since noon – knitting tutorials (me and the dog hid in my office). Come football time and I went to take control of the clicker and it was suggested that it may not be a good idea. I glanced at the screen and two things came to mind.

I just upped my life insurance and the tutorial she was watching looked like a someone making a noose on an old cowboy movie. There was even part of the tutorial that was in black and white. Scary.

The dog and I retreated back to my office and “decided”, one football game on that so very small, very tiny 32” screen may have saved our lives (from the noose) My office chair is nothing like my couch – Grump, Grump.

So, Launch Firefox, Amazon, Login, Password, Prime, Thursday Night Football… ERROR message said something about Amazon not being able to show TNF - with this version of Firefox.

And I knew I could not update. (sorry did not screenshot) - moved quickly to the next computer that I knew Firefox was up-to-date, just in time for the kick off.

The overall common thing I see here is both applications came preinstalled in LM22 Cinnamon. They seem to have some restrictions I had not see in the previous 5-7 years. Fairly, they may have some very valid reasons – just not explained clearly.

I’ve done my reading, research and come to the conclusion I do not want to do more “research” for the moment. My solution is uninstall both Firefox and LibreOffice. Install Brave and only LibreWrite and LibreCalc (just what I use). See what happens.

Also, I need to make sure I have dibs on the 75” TV clicker early next Thursday. (or the dog will be mad)

As to the direct topic of this thread “...movie apps, i.e. Prime, Hulu etc.”; TV/Streaming/ for free – without commercials – IMO, not going to happen. Corporately, not a chance. As individuals, maybe.

I am definitely not “anti-big-corporation”. They spend billions upon billions of bucks to provide entertainment and/or their services and products. Every one wants the benefits, but it does not come free.

Corporations have choices as to which manner they want to recoup their costs and make profit which one of the main avenue is commercials. Simple, they make profit or go out of business. No profit, no commercials but no product/services either.

There is no free lunch.

With that said, Paying for Lunch comes using different “currencies”. Arguably, some of the most common currencies are Monetary, Knowledge/Experience, and Time. The one thing we all have in common and the least of, Time.

How much of any of them do you have and want to spend on something most likely unchangeable is your choice.

As individuals using available Time to extend their Knowledge and Experience and hopefully with the least amount of outgoing Cash may be the most successful. They may also share their solution.

I know many folks personally and close friends that sit through commercials – some with the sound off, some sound on. Knowingly or unknowingly, their Time currency is paying for lunch.

Those that have the tenacity and technical skills will spend their time, using their skill level and maybe some cash to block commercials to their level of acceptability. Their way of paying for lunch.

Some just hunt sources of entertainment, information, etc without ads and commercials. Time spent searching, paying for lunch.

There is probably a dozen other ways you can pay for that "Free Lunch". I know a few younger generation folks that are so intent on keeping up on entertainment and social media, they do not even “see” the commercials.

IMO - What I do not like is blocking my ability to exercise my preferences on my machines to any level of preferences I choose. I am already paying enough to be commercial free, directly and indirectly. Which all of us have different opinions on what that means and how much of our “currencies” to spend to achieve our comfort zone.

Any good defense attorney will tell you… out spend the other guy. So commercials it is, profit makes it happen, and you are not going to define what the amount of profit "should be". The corporate attorneys will out spend your cash and eat up your time. Corporations make money, make profit or go bankrupt. Really pretty simple. When you cannot pay your bills, you go bankrupt too. That principal goes back thousands of years, which in some cases, with a lot more devastating results than modern day.

Back sometime in the past, decades ago the idea of Free Cable TV popped up in the middle of Network TV - which was driven with commercials. It was free for about as long as it took you to spell “F R E E T V”

 

[MuttMutt]

Not exactly streaming related but since browsers have also been brought up it looks like the DOJ is going to try and force Google to divest itself of Chrome. I know that could mean many things including creating a separate entity that will control Chrome without Google's direct input but who knows at this point.

However if that does happen it could mean a return to much more capability for ad blocking in Chrome and Chrome based browsers. I personally use Brave which from my understanding is built using the opensource version Chromium with the anti ad and tracker stuff built in and add uBlock Origin for little annoying things like scripts that I don't want to run or ads on certain sites that host their own directly.

 

[Egzoset]

I'm somewhat puzzled observing those 3 letters ain't been mentioned so far:

VPN​

 

[davinci74]

I'm assuming that since you're posting to a Linux forum that you're watching these TV/Movie apps on Linux. I could be wrong, the particular forum is "off topic". But if you are watching via your computer you can install ad blockers to your browser and these do block commercials. I use uBlock Origin. Now of course Google hates this and is making it extremely difficult for those that use Chrome. My suggestion is to use Firefox. It's a great browser and is an advocate for your privacy and they won't be implementing things to block your ad blockers from working.

Actually I'm referring to watching on television. Example is Prime. I have to pay additional $3 a month to not have commercials interfere with movies. They doing anything to make extra money. I figure if I can get someone's attention concerning this I may be able to stir the pot. If you can get enough customers that are fed up with this unnecessary fee maybe I can put somebody's feet to the fire. This would have to have a recognizable voice to get any action done though. That's the reason I posted this to get some input to see if it's worth pursuing.