I wonder why they haven't done this along time ago. They don't even need a full DoH endpoint, just an auto-updating hosts file downloaded from a non-blockable domain (one used for other TV features) would do it.

The already hard code dns to do this, need to do an address translation to fix

There's no reason any of these products need to use on-prem DNS of any sort, except maybe for the DNS lookup to the central server that they require to operate at all. I know a lot of people base DoH concerns on the idea that it allows their set-top box to evade their local DNS policy, but that's not a coherent argument; these boxes can tunnel all their traffic out, if they want to (you can block that, but it's all-or-none, which is the thing the DNS boffins claim they can work around).

I kinda doubt they're concerned about the tiny percentage of users who would do such a thing.

I already use an Nvidia Shield instead of my smart TV, even though both are Android TV. It is such a better experience. If any device started taking over it's DNS in a way I couldn't override, and I had reason to care, I would stop using it. PiHole is already a meh solution.

My two primary apps on my Shield are SmartTubeTV and Kodi. I won't pay for YouTube when they force bundle it with other services I don't want. The alternative of ads has gotten to ridiculous levels, and then the ads in the video from them on top. SponsorBlock is another game changer. Sadly it isn't in an AndroidTV app yet.

On my phone it is Vanced all the way for YouTube, and it does have SponsorBlock.

And that's when you start adopting reverse dns + mac address filtering