A fun little thread in the YouTube TV subreddit recently summed up something we all have undoubtedly thought about in recent weeks. “New product idea — a paid tier with no political ads.”
Take my money. (And never mind that I’m actually running for office.)
“Dear YouTubeTV Product Management,” the post begins. “Please please, pretty please create a subscription tier with no political ads. We are months away from the election and I have already seen way too many awful political ads.”
Amen, sister. Or, erm, DarkLordofData. While each and every one of YouTube TV’s more-than 8 million subscribers is subjected to political ads right now, I happen to live in a very specific Circle of Hell in which I’m subjected not only to Alabama political ads, but Northwest Florida’s, too. And so in an election year like this — and especially in a year like this — I might pay as much as double to never see a political advertisement, even if it’s someone I’d actually vote for. (And especially if it’s someone whose box I’ll never tick.)
This, of course, will never happen. As the top comment notes, “ads are between whatever channel and purchaser of ad space. YouTube TV has nothing to do with that.”
And that’s very true. Take whatever ABC broadcast channel you have. If a candidate buys ad time in a national program, everyone will see it. If a candidate buys ad time during a local news broadcast, only that local region will see it. YouTube TV is just streaming the feed, not controlling the content.
As someone who on occasion buys ad time on the various platforms, it’s a great option. (My neighbor kids next door were super surprised to see Mr. Phil on the screen one day in the middle of whatever YouTube channel they were watching. I am the coolest.)
But as someone who’s subjected to some of the worst political ads in recent memory, November 6 can’t come soon enough.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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