GOOGLE has admitted that Android TV viewers will receive pesky pop-ups as part of their viewing experience.
The tech giant announced the move at the Google I/O 2025 conference on Tuesday.
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The company has extended the Google Play In-App Review API to Google TV, allowing developers to trigger rating prompts in their apps.
As a result, punters will receive pop-ups asking to rate and review apps while watching a movie or their favourite show.
For those who wish not to take part, simply press on the “Not now” option in the pop-up or choose to rate it on your Android phone or tablet.
If you select the “Rate on another device” option, it will send a Google Play Store notification on your Android phone to complete the review.
BUTTON IT
It comes after news that all new, future Google TV devices are set to feature a ‘Free TV’ button on the remote.
Hitting the button will take viewers directly to a hub with 150 free TV channels.
The channels require no subscription or app installation and can already be found in the ‘Live’ tab on Google TV devices.
Google is making the change from this month, the company confirmed to Android Authority.
That means any Google TV device made after April 2025 should include a ‘Free TV’ button that will take users directly to the ‘Live’ tab.
It works the same as the branded buttons you see on other remotes, like the ones that take you straight to Netflix or Disney+.
And it’s not just Google-branded devices that will benefit.
Google TV is the software used on a number of different branded TVs, such as Sony and Hisense in the US, and TCL and Philips in the UK and Europe.
The remote for these TVs will need to be modified to include the new button in the future.
Some people in the US already have the Free TV button, such as owners of the Onn 4K Pro, which is a Google TV streaming gadget exclusive to Walmart.
Free Ad-Support TV (FAST) channels have become increasingly popular, as households try to rein in their streaming spending.
Households will spend, on average, an extra £144 this year on their standard-level subscriptions compared to 2020.
The only catch, of course, is that they come with ads.
But you’d get that with cable, and at a greater cost.
