Samsung will pretend to break millions of TVs in a new ad. What could go wrong?

What could go right?
 By 
Jake Krol
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The general consensus when a TV starts to show static or blacks out is that something has gone terribly wrong. When you see it happen, you might get up, check the cord or cable box, and if you're watching one of your favorite shows, you'd probably get upset.

But that's not stopping Samsung from making this annoyance occur on millions of television sets in the UK when it begins running its new TV ads.

Samsung announced Friday it will "turn off" an estimated 8 million TVs this weekend, leaving the screens completely black in a radical new advertisement series that features literally nothing. The point of the new ad campaign is to highlight the new "Ambient Mode" capabilities of Samsung's QLED TVs, which allow them to blend into a home's environment.

Samsung's new "Ambient Mode" can essentially show art or patterns when the TV is not in use, blending into the surroundings in a person's home. For example, if the QLED TV is attached to a brick wall, you can have it repeat that pattern on screen — ideally drawing less attention to the gigantic TV taking up wall space.

Samsung will begin highlighting its new prank ad series with the hashtag #TVblackout, and in a more audacious move, the company will take over the gigantic digital displays in Piccadilly Circus, one of the central areas of London, as well as interrupting advertisements before cinema screenings of Solo: A Star Wars Movie.

The company says its expects to reach an estimated 49 million viewers across 10 days, with over 200 TV spots on multiple channels. Samsung will even run the controversial ad during the Champions League final on May 26. We just hope that diehard soccer fans realize that its a prank before they do any real damage to their aging TV sets.

Mashable Image
Jake Krol

Jake Krol was a Tech Writer at Mashable and had been at the company May–December 2018. He holds a degree in Media & Communication from Muhlenberg College. Jake has a big love for all things tech, and is a huge Springsteen fan and also a native New Jerseyan.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
4 coolest TVs at CES 2026 are from Samsung, LG, and TCL and feature wildly different tech
Samsung Micro RGB TV, Samsung Movingstyle TV, and TCL X11L TV on gray backdrop with burst of color

Save up to $6,000 on Samsung's best TVs before the big game
three samsung tvs on blue graphic background

New Samsung TVs just dropped: Meet the new (but not) The Frame Pro and a curiously Frame Pro-like OLED TV
Samsung S95H OLED TV with purple abstract screensaver hanging on wall

Samsung will pay you $50 to leave your non-Samsung watch party
A TV showing a football player holding a football and a bright blue background.

How hackers are stealing millions from ATMs, FBI warns
a card being inserted into an atm

More in Tech

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!