Ad‑Skipping Behind Paywalls

Device and platform owners are increasingly converting features that let users avoid ads into subscription add‑ons. A once‑free convenience (one‑button or automatic commercial skip) becomes a monetized premium feature, forcing viewers to choose between manual skipping or paying to automate the ad‑avoidance they previously had. — This trend matters because it changes the balance of power between advertisers, platforms, and viewers and could cascade into new norms where ad‑avoidance tools are routinely charged for, reshaping the economics of broadcast and streaming TV.