One of the most annoying things about going to ESPN website and watching videos is that you have to watch a short advertisement before each selected video. For most people, the ten to fifteen second ads are a minor nuisance, but for somebody watching a string of videos, it's irritating to see the same ads over and over again.
I have discovered a way to block these ads and thought that I would share this info with the world. What you will need is an Ad Blocker add-on for your browser. I use firefox and have added the AdBlock Plus add-on, currently version 1.3.3 from the date I write this.
AdBlock Plus is a great add-on to block tracking, ad banners, and even ad videos. I love the ad banner block feature, all you have to do is scroll over the ad banner and a small 'block' icon appears in the top-right corner. All you have to do is select the 'block' icon and save the filter in the dialog box. You will no longer see that ad banner.
Blocking video ads is a little trickier, but I'll save you the effort of trying to figure how to do it on your own:
(steps 1&2 can be done simply by pressing Ctrl+Shift+E)
1. Click on the ABP icon in the top-right corner of your browser
2. Click on Preferences
3. Click Add Filter...
4. Copy and paste all this text: ||vod.espn.go.com/ads/*
5. Click on the OK button to save the new filter
Enjoy watching ESPN videos without the ads.
I'll try to update this blog if the filter needs to be updated.
This filter works as of January 8, 2011.
If this blog becomes outdated, or you want to try to figure out how to block ads from websites other than ESPN, I'll give you a clue to how to determine where the ads are coming from, therefore giving you an option to create a new filter.
I have another addon program called DownloadHelper. This program allows me to download flash elements such as movies and music to my computer directly off websites.
When a video ad is playing, the DownloadHelper Icon in the top of the browser becomes active. You can click on it and see the name of the advertisment video being played. Take note a part of the name that is easy to remember.
Now in AdBlocker Plus, click on Open Blockable Items or press Ctrl+Shift+V. A list of searchable assets appear at the bottom of the browser. In the Search box, enter the text that you noted from DownloadHelper. This should eliminate all assets on the list except the one you are trying to hone in on. Select the remaining asset and hit ENTER, or Right-Click and select Block this item....
Now you have the latest filter to bypass video advertisements.
