The Hockey Tonk Man
Registered User
I was switching to the Oilers/Sabres game last night.
Same thing. Oilers broadcast looked so nice compared to NESN.
Boston Globe NHL needs to dump these virtual boards.
- Thread starter Gee Wally
- Start date
I was switching to the Oilers/Sabres game last night.
Same thing. Oilers broadcast looked so nice compared to NESN.
easton117
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2017
- 5,091
- 5,693
Lol I hope to see the technology someday where I can break wind and little words are visible. Like thought bubbles.
I could get paid to do it in supermarket aisles advertising for the sales that day.
missingchicklet
Registered User
- Jan 24, 2010
- 36,589
- 34,464
Which major North American sports league has as many ads in view during TV broadcasts as the NHL? None. Having watched more NHL hockey already this season than I should I have a few observations about the digital boards.
1) The brightness of the white on the digital ads is way overdone on some of the broadcasts I have seen. The ice looks very off-white now compared to the ads.
2) Parts of players along the boards are disappearing at times in a digitized LSD trip kind of way. Brings back memories of sports games on the PlayStation 1.
3) Some sports networks ads are worse than others. The worst offenders are the ones with stuff speeding by horizontally on the boards. Yeah, that's not distracting when trying to watch a rush up the ice. Honorable mention are the ones with oversized photos/graphics that pop up in multiples around the rink. Not distracting at all.
I get that some people are bothered by the ads more than others. I envy those folks who can completely tune them out, although you folks are an advertiser's worst nightmare. The whole point of these gaudy animated ads is to deflect attention away from the game and onto their ads. Otherwise there would be no point in buying the ad space.
When the digitized ads are static I have no issue with them other than body parts disappearing into the boards. That is kind of annoying. For the love of all things I hope some team has alternate gray/white plaid unis at some point. That'll give the digitized boards a real run for their money. I hope the NHL makes some adjustments and cuts animation and ad changes out during actual play. I don't want to have to start taking supplements that help me focus just so I can follow NHL hockey telecasts.
1) The brightness of the white on the digital ads is way overdone on some of the broadcasts I have seen. The ice looks very off-white now compared to the ads.
2) Parts of players along the boards are disappearing at times in a digitized LSD trip kind of way. Brings back memories of sports games on the PlayStation 1.
3) Some sports networks ads are worse than others. The worst offenders are the ones with stuff speeding by horizontally on the boards. Yeah, that's not distracting when trying to watch a rush up the ice. Honorable mention are the ones with oversized photos/graphics that pop up in multiples around the rink. Not distracting at all.
I get that some people are bothered by the ads more than others. I envy those folks who can completely tune them out, although you folks are an advertiser's worst nightmare. The whole point of these gaudy animated ads is to deflect attention away from the game and onto their ads. Otherwise there would be no point in buying the ad space.
When the digitized ads are static I have no issue with them other than body parts disappearing into the boards. That is kind of annoying. For the love of all things I hope some team has alternate gray/white plaid unis at some point. That'll give the digitized boards a real run for their money. I hope the NHL makes some adjustments and cuts animation and ad changes out during actual play. I don't want to have to start taking supplements that help me focus just so I can follow NHL hockey telecasts.
I don’t like that the red lines on the boards have been covered by the digital atrocities either.
KesselBuiltMyHotrod
Registered User
More like the in-and-out of focus moving digital boards on top of NESN's hideous, janky graphics combined with their glaring CGI glass ads makes for one big headache.
Mr. Make-Believe
The happy genius of my household
I didn't care one way or the other about them... Until I saw that f***ing tire.
Throw the fans a bone and ban the animations. That shouldn't be too much to ask.
Throw the fans a bone and ban the animations. That shouldn't be too much to ask.
Donnie Shulzhoffer
Rocket Surgery
That is what lost me as well. The ads were always there but they didn’t move during play.
Patdud
Registered User
EverettMike
FIRE DON SWEENEY INTO THE SUN
If they just changed between plays it would be "fine." They still don't look right, but they can fix that. But switching during the play is bad, and big animation sequences are an apocalypse.
Caper Bruins fan
Registered User
Tonight was the best NESN has looked , I still hate the ads though .
Terrier
Registered User
The virtual boards don't bother me, probably because they keep the white background. I'm a frequent Premier League viewer, so I'm kind of used to moving ad boards.
EverettMike
FIRE DON SWEENEY INTO THE SUN
Over the volcano
Registered User
Donnie Shulzhoffer
Rocket Surgery
I am now not noticing them. Amazing how easy it is to just follow the game in front of you.
I wish I could. But I wear glasses and the glare really has an effect on my eyes. Especially the Sullivan Tire rolling around or the sudden glitches.
ap3lovr
Registered User
If you want to do the virtual ads, can we not have them animated? Static ads are fine by me. They have been a staple of the game since I can remember.
Bruinaura
Resident Cookie Monster
- Mar 29, 2014
- 46,521
- 91,102
I was watching a Tampa game the other night and the ad was static but the words were so huge that my eyes kept trying to read it instead of focusing on the game. I mean, I get it, that's exactly what the advertisers want 
but it is horrendous.
but it is horrendous.They flat out suck.I was watching a Tampa game the other night and the ad was static but the words were so huge that my eyes kept trying to read it instead of focusing on the game. I mean, I get it, that's exactly what the advertisers want
As someone who works behind the camera, the implementation of these ads has been the flow chart from hell.
What is ironic is the Minnesota North Stars were the first NHL team to sell dasher ads in 1981 BUT the first time North American fans saw ads came 9 years earlier in MOSCOW
What is ironic is the Minnesota North Stars were the first NHL team to sell dasher ads in 1981 BUT the first time North American fans saw ads came 9 years earlier in MOSCOW
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BruinsFan37
Registered User
- Jun 26, 2015
- 1,603
- 1,725
Exactly this. I wouldn't mind them as much if they didn't change during play. The animations, especially with ones that are high contract (i.e. non white, the Ford Ad is a good example of it) are distracting and disruptive.
I’m out of market and watching on ESPN via Hulu. Most of the games I’ve seen don’t have the virtual boards ads. Not complaining- just wondering, what’s up with that?
@Bruinaura I think this is your situation as well. Am I (not) seeing things? Also, OT, but how do you watch NHLN games (if it’s not illegal?). I don’t want to subscribe to Sling too just for NHLN.
@Bruinaura I think this is your situation as well. Am I (not) seeing things? Also, OT, but how do you watch NHLN games (if it’s not illegal?). I don’t want to subscribe to Sling too just for NHLN.
Bruinaura
Resident Cookie Monster
- Mar 29, 2014
- 46,521
- 91,102
I've seen the ads on Hulu sometimes, not all the time.
I don't have NHLN anymore
I hate that they make it so complicated to watch all the games nowadays
EverettMike
FIRE DON SWEENEY INTO THE SUN
ap3lovr
Registered User
My days in broadcasting are well behind me now, but I can only imagine how painful of a setup this is. I remember upgrading to a Ross Xpression graphic overlay system and what a pain in the ass that was, and we only used it for lower 3rd. Really curious how they key in the boards specifically without bleeding into the ice since the color is so similar. Though I wonder if that is why the broadcasts seem to be a bit darker this year across the board. Either that or I need new glasses.
IceColdOx
Registered User
Trying to get a few of friends into hockey and they complained about the boards. Sometimes it's just too busy and distraction. They just hurt my eyes.
