Put another way, they are real morons if they think this practice sells anything.
I have a robust computer so that I can work, search and play on the Internet. More and more when I go to watch a linked video, usually from dinosaurs like ABCCBSNBC, I must first watch an ad. I can't skip the ad. I must let it play through before I can view what I came to see.
I immediately hit the back button and move on to another item.
They've got their free market and I've got mine.