Whether bigger nets really would increase TV ratings or not isn't quite the point, IMO. The question is whether or not the NHL Marketing Geniuses might think that bigger nets really would increase TV ratings or not. And I'd be willing to bet that they would.
Of course, I mostly agree that nothing is very likely to make any difference in reality. But you just know these guys are going to keep screwing around indefinitely all the same, chasing rainbows. And frankly, I think changing the net size is one of the most harmless ways they can screw around. I've watched 6 games now with the bigger nets, and the end effect, even with inexperienced and unprepared goalies, is a lot less dramatic than you'd think.
Sure, we real fans don't care if the score is 0-0 or 7-5, as long as the game is exciting. At worst, I don't think the net size affects the excitement and flow one bit.
I've heard some theorists proclaim that teams would suddenly go back to button-down defenses to try to stop players from getting off shots against these big nets. But I don't see the logic in that. Defense has always tried to stop players getting off shots on net. It's not like these nets are so much bigger that random floaters from the blue line are suddenly going to catch the goalies napping. Good shooters now have something more to shoot at, and that could create some extra excitement too. Instead of dumping it off or cycling it around to set up a perfect play, maybe now there will be more guys wiring it on goal. Anyway, at worst it's a wash. There are a lot of ways the marketing geniuses can screw up the game worse than making the nets a little bigger, so I'm all for the bigger nets as a way of damage control if nothing else!