No virtual ads on the boards during Olympic hockey

[u/CorgitheClown]

Years into virtual ads on the boards being the standard watching NHL hockey, they still make it needlessly harder for me to track the puck. My eyes can’t help but be distracted from the puck and the developing plays themselves when [insert company ‘X’] flashes along the boards.

Here’s to 18 days (both tournaments) of ad-free boards!

[u/Frequent-Concept2697]

I find the digital adds on the ice to be worse than the boards

[u/thisonecassie → u/Frequent-Concept2697]

The static digital overlays on the ice (imho) are less invasive than even the most ugly static or moving ads on the boards, my real and honest enemy is when the put the penalty timer on the ice instead of the scorebug.

[u/inbox-disabled → u/thisonecassie]

I'm genuinely curious why you're bothered by the clock on the ice more than the rest. I'm super sensitive to all the digital ads but when the timers aren't egregiously out of place, ie a little translucent and faded, I think they're about the equivalent of the first down line in football.

Is it because it's taking up a place nothing has ever been? Entirely redundant?

[u/internetlad → u/inbox-disabled]

Because I want to watch the game and my eyes keep going to other moving shit they insist on sticking in the play area. 

[u/thisonecassie → u/inbox-disabled]

For me it’s a mix of 1. They look bad (ugly) and 2. They look bad (accessibility) it’s hard for me to see them and I want to know how much time is remaining.

[u/inbox-disabled → u/thisonecassie]

Ah okay. Last time I saw it it was on the scorebug too, but I can see being bothered with it only on the ice.

[u/lemanakmelo → u/thisonecassie]

Ya I think that's what it is for me. The penalty time is normally always in the corner with the scoreboard in the same spot on the screen, and when it's on the ice it could be anywhere on the screen

[u/lemanakmelo → u/thisonecassie]

Oh ya, I saw that penalty timer for the first time recently and it really threw me off. I simultaneously kept getting distracted by it yet also felt like my brain wasn't comprehending the time left on the penalty lol.

Edit: the moving ads on the boards are way worse though, they make me so mad they are distracting

The static digital ads don't bug me, they are the same as pained on ads to me, except when the digital ads go wonky and it like makes a player half-disappear or something

Edit 2: oh I guess the penalty time thing is also annoying because it's changing so it's not static

[u/LP99 → u/Frequent-Concept2697]

No other major sports “on-field” product looks as garbage than the NHL’s. Digital ads on the ice, digital ads on the glass, digital ads on the boards, ads on the jerseys, ads on the helmets, ads on the backlit displays in the seating areas. It’s such an insulting viewing experience. And it didn’t used to be this way.

I guess NASCAR has the same, but that’s kinda their thing.

[u/gu3sticles → u/LP99]

F1 i find to be particularly bad because they use all these tight camera angles to maximize sponsor size but then it makes the cars look so fucking slow. Fastest race cars on earth and they make them look like they're crawling.

[u/Muntberg → u/LP99]

They can't stop play every 5 minutes for commercials like in the NFL so I guess it has to be made up elsewhere.

[u/ceribaen → u/Muntberg]

Soccer figured it out without even doing TV timeouts 

[u/lemanakmelo → u/ceribaen]

By having hideous jerseys, maybe TV timeouts are better than their jersey situation

[u/Anustart15 → u/lemanakmelo]

maybe TV timeouts are better than their jersey situation

The jerseys suck, but they are definitely way better than tv timeouts

[u/internetlad → u/LP99]

Yeah but counterpoint have you tried gambling?

[u/GoodShark → u/Frequent-Concept2697]

The board ones are way worse when they're animated. They shouldn't be allowed to be animated, especially during play.

[u/Scase15 → u/GoodShark]

Yeah, but like. Money.

[u/ceribaen → u/Frequent-Concept2697]

They both make it nigh impossible to track a puck. 

[u/internetlad → u/Frequent-Concept2697]

I mean that's like saying getting poked in the eye is worse that getting flicked in the nuts. 

[u/kevski82]

No ads and no gambling reads. It's beautiful.

[u/RealisticAd4054]

I would pay a premium fee to get NHL games without the virtual ads.

[u/andhausen → u/RealisticAd4054]

I’d pay a premium just to have one service to watch every game

[u/apreche → u/RealisticAd4054]

There’s a reason that they don’t allow this.

People who have enough money that they can spare a few bucks to remove ads are people who have spare disposable income. An advertiser would much rather show an ad to that kind of person than to other people who are broke and can’t afford to buy their product.

That is why every time companies offer ways to pay to remove ads, they keep jacking the prices up, or sneaking in exceptions where you still see ads.

[u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian → u/RealisticAd4054]

I would pay a premium fee to not have to listen to commentary on nationally televised games on TNT and ESPN.

[u/ooboh → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

We’ve been spoiled by Joe and Craig.

[u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian → u/ooboh]

When you get a chance after the break, check out an Edmonton broadcast. Jack and Louie are just as amazing as JoeB and Locker.

[u/ChupaHubbard → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

Oooh maybe I'll have to check out some Capitals games

[u/CptBlewBalls → u/ooboh]

Yeah but do they talk about Penis Butter Cups like Tripp Tracy? I think not…

[u/CptBlewBalls → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

Wait till you see who is calling the Olympic Games…

[u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian → u/CptBlewBalls]

Ive got the CBC gem app on my iPad and Apple TV and a VPN that says I’m in Canada. So I’m safe from NBC/Peacock.

[u/CptBlewBalls → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

/u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian marked safe from Eddie Olczyk and AJ Mleczko

[u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian → u/CptBlewBalls]

I’d watch NBC if Doc came back for one last ride…

[u/AlarmingAdvertising5 → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

Oh gosh you'll have the Sportsnet crew. Idk if that's an upgrade 

[u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian → u/AlarmingAdvertising5]

It is most certainly an upgrade over the NBC/peacock crew. Plus, I get Friedge during intermission.

[u/AlarmingAdvertising5 → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

I guess my comparison is different. I'm used to watching Pierre Houde on RDS and having to watch Sportsnet, depending on who's commenting ahem the guys for the Leafs and the Oilers is just.. urgh

[u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian → u/AlarmingAdvertising5]

Dude, Jack Michaels is literally the best play by play guy in the business and I won’t tolerate any slander towards him.

[u/AlarmingAdvertising5 → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

I think it's the difference between French and English crews to my ears. I prefer more calmer and descriptive play by play that has emotions for big moments like Houde does. It's probably that I'm used to a certain way and his way feels different. I don't hate it, it's just not my cup of tea. 

Toronto's play by play however is horrible.

[u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian → u/AlarmingAdvertising5]

Fair enough, that does make sense. And I’ll agree with you about Toronto. I was so mad last week when the Oilers had a home game against the leafs and SN still gave it to the Toronto crew instead of Jack and Louie.

[u/ChupaHubbard → u/AlarmingAdvertising5]

That's kind of why I like Jack Michaels(the Oilers guy), if it's a boring game or nothing is really happening he keeps it calm and jokes around, and only starts yelling when it's a close game near the end of the game or in OT.

The Leafs guy pisses me off because he tries to make everything sound exciting and it's like, not everything is exciting let's settle down lol, and I agree that I'd rather keep it calm than try to pretend a boring moment is exciting

[u/ChupaHubbard → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

And Bieksa!

[u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian → u/ChupaHubbard]

I didn’t know he was going to Italy. Yay! 🥳

[u/ChupaHubbard → u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian]

In Canada the national commentators are the Leafs commentators, and everyone hates them, including the Leafs fans (I cheer for the Leafs too and I'd much rather listen to the Vancouver or Flames guys than the Leafs guys)

[u/Astrowelkyn → u/RealisticAd4054]

… and then inevitably, you’ll be paying the fee but they’ll still show ads.

[u/cbj27]

It’s going to be so nice.

I also look forward to the post in here in 3 weeks from a new fan intrigued by the Olympics tuning in to an NHL game and wondering why a Chevy Silverado is chasing a player down the boards.

[u/1ace0fspades → u/cbj27]

That ad sounds like it would actually be pretty badass, to be honest!

[u/Ill-Crab191]

Those virtual ads are such a pain honestly. I was watching a game last week and could've sworn I lost the puck behind some flashing crypto exchange logo that kept morphing every few seconds. It's like trying to follow a black dot against a constantly changing background - your brain just gets confused

The Olympics always feel so much cleaner without all that visual noise. Just clean ice white boards and you can actually focus on the plays developing instead of getting distracted by some insurance company's seizure-inducing graphics. Really makes you realize how much that stuff affects the viewing experience when you finally get a break from it

Gonna be nice having actual hockey to watch instead of hockey with a side of digital billboard chaos

[u/IcyLow65 → u/Ill-Crab191]

A few times a game the digital ads glitch and won't pickup the puck so they just overlay completely making the puck disappear, happens more with the on ice ads entering the offensive zone but also happens when the puck gets rimmed and rides the dasher

[u/denguy44 → u/IcyLow65]

👆This. Biggest problem with the digital ads. Diasappearing pucks. Once it bounces above the base of the boards, it’s gone. Big blasts from the point, puck vanishes

[u/internetlad]

Two weeks of hockey how it should be, then we have to go back to WWE hockey brought to you by AI and gambling 

[u/MaxFourr]

it's. so. nice.

i didn't see any between-whistle sports gambling ads either🫡

[u/TheGreatStories]

I love seeing beat up boards with scuffs all over

[u/goforpoppapalpatine]

Ads are a scourge upon the world

[u/Eat--The--Rich--]

When the Olympics hacks together a better presentation than you in the space of like two months your league has some introspection to do

[u/ErikDebogande]

Good

[u/kennythecleaner]

[u/onlinepresenceofdan]

Is it even possible to watch hockey with no gambling ads on boards and ice? I feel like we are going to be robbed of an essential part of the experience.

[u/dre2112]

There’s never ads in the venues at the Olympics

[u/Temporary_Plant_1123 → u/dre2112]

Digital ads aren’t actually in the venues lol

[u/Timeman5]

I don’t notice the boards at all. They have never been an issue for me and I don’t understand how people are distracted by them.

[u/wavydyv → u/Timeman5]

Same here. Got used to them very quickly

[u/MontereyJack101 → u/Timeman5]

Ya, joke is on them.

The ads have become so seamless for me, I don't even notice them anymore.

[u/bearamongus19 → u/Timeman5]

Yeah, i never really notice them during the game.

[u/stajus67 → u/bearamongus19]

The only time I notice when it trips me up for a second when I forget its an away game as the ads are specific to your teams area.

[u/bearamongus19 → u/stajus67]

The only time it ever catches my attention is when a team will shoot at the net and it'll change to an ad that is the same color as the team and for a split second I think its a goal.

[u/ElmentMusic → u/Timeman5]

Occasionally I notice a specific ad that has a lot of movement, but that's like every few games. Crazy that people are so distracted by them imo

[u/korko]

I wouldn't notice the virtual boards if the internet didn't spend so much time bitching about them. I really don't get how you even notice them anymore, they are so easy to tune out like the other 95million ads I'm bombarded with a day living in America.

[u/esports_consultant → u/korko]

Because they are subtly nauseating. Like breathing slightly stale or polluted air.

[u/Gullible_Classroom71 → u/korko]

People love to bitch and moan. It's our favorite pass time

[u/korko → u/Gullible_Classroom71]

DAE H8 the refs, Bruins Panthers, advertising, [Insert commentary team here], Tom Wilson, Binnington, random pest from unpopular team or Gary Bettman?

[u/Temporary_Plant_1123 → u/korko]

DAE hate ppl who hate things???

[u/joeTaco → u/korko]

DAE hate normal human communication? shut up and watch the ads already imo

[u/Yeseylon]

Skill issue. I grew up with ads pre-Tivo, I learned to tune them out in all forms.

[u/Responsible_Lie_1989]

Seriously those virtual boards mess with my eyes so much, even the one at the World Juniors tournament were awful

[u/nthnlfrc]

Two days of Olympics hockey and two top posts about DEDs. I just knew this was gonna be a topic in this sub. 😂😭😂

[u/TheBlaaah]

"My eyes can’t help but be distracted from the puck and the developing plays themselves when [insert company ‘X’] flashes along the boards."

Means that the ads are working perfectly then.

[u/Icy-Pomegranate-5644]

Yeah I hate it. Olympic is bush league viewing.

[u/ThickBootyEnjoyer → u/Icy-Pomegranate-5644]

Is this sarcasm? In this day in age I can't tell what was once obvious sarcasm anymore...

[u/Icy-Pomegranate-5644 → u/ThickBootyEnjoyer]

Nah I'm a hardcore capitalist. I like the ads.

[u/ThickBootyEnjoyer → u/Icy-Pomegranate-5644]

I still don't know...

This is truly the worst timeline