Google TV Won’t Let You Skip Ads

When we heard about Google TV last week, it seemed like all roses. Google’s vision for Web-television integration sounded like it could transcend everything we’ve seen so far, offering a cohesive system that seamlessly blends the full spectrum of multimedia content. Today, however, official word has surfaced detailing Google TV’s first unattractive blemish: mandatory ads.

While it’s hardly surprising, it is a piece of red ink on an otherwise fresh canvas. Google TV product manager Rishi Chandra told an Australian Newspaper that Google TV will not allow for skipping of commercials, unlike other products on the market including DVRs. Bummer.

On the bright side, Chandra noted that integration of Web and TV will allow advertises to create more specific, targeted ads, which could mean less ads. He explained: “You can display fewer ads that are more targeted to users because you can monetise [sic] the content better. We can be much more smart about what type of ads we play but also ensure the ads are being played – and we can also do much more tracking. It’s going to be a win for everyone, especially on the advertising side.” [via Pocket-lint]