Now Serving: Chilled Ads

Picture this, you wake up in the middle of the night craving a late night snack, only to find your fridge screen swapped from a weather update to a promotion for dog food—or sleep medicine. Ads already feel inescapable, flooding every corner of the internet. Seeing them plastered on your fridge seems like overkill. Still, this pilot will likely prove profitable for Samsung. Although annoying to some, there are paths to embrace: Imagine an ad-supported fridge for a discounted price, or targeted ads for exclusive grocery item discounts. For CPG companies and retailers alike, this could be a new front door to the home. Food delivery and e-com players will likely watch for ways to link brand promotion with frictionless ordering. Regardless of whether consumers dive in, Samsung’s ad-supported fridge is a glimpse into a future where even appliances become a marketing channel, and brands will want screen time.