Waning interest in Habs and NHL in general, I think the ads are bothering me more then I thought it would.....

[DailyKaizen]

Ads will kill the sport, but also it doesn't help that most broadcasts are really boring. If you watch on TVAS, it's basically unwatchable at this point.

The NHL once Bettman is gone really needs to re-think their boardcasts. It is not normal that die-hard fans think the game is boring now. We have a lot of offense, a lot of speed. It's not supposed to be a chore to watch this thing. It's entertainment. NFL does it better, as does most of European soccer.

Some of the things they need to do:
-Less ads
-Less useless talk
-Start games earlier
-No more anthems
-Different ideas for broadcasting (i.e. maybe different camera angles, different replays, different perspectives of play, cooler intros, more cool shots of players, etc.)

Marc Denis saved RDS, but unfortunately, most games are on TVAS now (yes I know I can watch on TSN but their regional broadcasts are usually really barebones/minimalist).

The future of ad free (digital ads) hockey will be baked in with something like a subscription or pay per view model like service.

 

[Censored Toad]

The future of ad free (digital ads) hockey will be baked in with something like a subscription or pay per view model like service.

I agree with the pay per view idea... that is coming for sure. LIke you tube premium

Thanks for the replys everyone, enjoyed reading thought it. I'll do my best to tune them out, but as many have stated its hard.
The natural take over of life priorities is logical and makes sense.

I think if they didn't jam the sports betting ads down my throat every chance (which I agree are predatory) along with changing the ads during stoppage could go along way to improving the fan experience.

I mean just look, soon netflix is going to have commercials. Remember why everyone went to netflix, watch stuff without ads.

You stay around long enough, you see yourself become the enemy.... or something.

also I want Bell Center Molson Dogs at the grocery store!

 

[Captain97]

What i cant stand is when they change the boards while the play is going on its really distracting and sometimes creates a bright spot or a dark one if they go from mostly white boards to really dark or the opposite.

One thing i dont agree that was mentioned in this thread is starting the games earlier 7 pm is way too early i would much prefer 8 or even later

Yeah I get up at 5:30, 8pm starts would annoy the He'll out of me, I wouldn't be done the game until 11

 

[DailyKaizen]

I agree with the pay per view idea... that is coming for sure. LIke you tube premium

Thanks for the replys everyone, enjoyed reading thought it. I'll do my best to tune them out, but as many have stated its hard.
The natural take over of life priorities is logical and makes sense.

I think if they didn't jam the sports betting ads down my throat every chance (which I agree are predatory) along with changing the ads during stoppage could go along way to improving the fan experience.

I mean just look, soon netflix is going to have commercials. Remember why everyone went to netflix, watch stuff without ads.

You stay around long enough, you see yourself become the enemy.... or something.

also I want Bell Center Molson Dogs at the grocery store

I used to bleed habs, planned my day around game day. Meet up with friends watch game have a good time.
I knew all the players.1st to 4th line.
Last few years... its been in steady decline.

I am more a lurker then a poster now.

The amount of free time I have has been steadily declining and I have been putting more emphasis on other priorities which is eating into my time for the team. Taking care of a two year old. House work, less friends have all pulled away at it however I still could make time If I really wanted so its not necessarily those things in a vacuum.

I found that my love for the sport took a big nose dive due to the previous GM and the direction of the team. We are now looking much better and I am very optimistic about the future with the young core then a few year ago which is more reason to watch. Team is more exciting and its been great watching the kids play.

That being said, I am still having issues falling back into the game. I think the amount of ads/sponsors is having a much more profound effect on my enjoyment of the sports then originally thought, I figured they would blend into the back ground noise of the game ... but that hasn't happened yet.

I find the ads on the jerseys to be annoying, and then amount of sports betting ads that jump into between plays is down right disgusting and totally intrusive. I've even turned the game off after being bombarded by so many in quick succession. I mean I always knew the teams were a business and one of the ways they make money is via ads.

Between the commercials, in game ads, the freaking ads on ice that change, ads on the boards that change, helmets, jerseys its just a bit much for me.

So I ask to you, is anyone else feeling this or am I alone on this one.

Thanks and GHG!

We also ought to address the elephant in the room...

That designing hockey to be so "stoppy starty" to make money reduces the quality of the hockey.

I quite enjoy the rare segments, often witness in the playoffs where there is a small segment of the period where there was no stoppage in play, and a few line changes, end to end stuff.

But like many things in life, sports, books, magazines, flights, transportation, you name it, there is a fiduciary duty for all operations to be done in the best interests of the shareholders and owners...we live in a hierarchical society.

Surprised no one mentioned RDS used to or still does a condensed version of the habs game which for many makes for a much more enjoyable experience, if you are ok it not being live sport...(ok for the regular season I guess)

 

[RealityBytes]

Lack of interest in the NHL has increased for sure, but that's everywhere, not just here. A parity league with terrible refereeing does not make for sports enthusiasm, it's more of a long season with games of boring repetitive play.

 

[Adam Michaels]

I can see your interest wane because of the previous management and how they didn't make it very fun. I can also understand you having other priorities over hockey (which is a good thing to have your priorities straight). But saying you can't get invested again because of the ads is a little weird.

I don't notice the ads on the boards or the ones painted on the ice. I don't notice the ads added digitally on the glass behind the nets. I don't notice the ads on the helmet. And I don't notice the ads on the jerseys. I don't expect everyone to no longer notice them. But to say the ads is why you don't like hockey anymore is because you're not focusing on the actual game.

 

[salbutera]

Interest in hockey in its core marketplace (Canada) has been waning for over a decade. Minor hockey enrollment is at all time lows…

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

My interest in games are still very strong, however the excessive gambling advertisements and the terrible and boring analysts annoy the **** out of me.

NBA has legends like Shaq and Barkley, NFL has Strahan, Moss, Sanders, Irvin etc. and then you turn on an NHL game in Canada and are listening to plugs like Anthony Stewart.

Hopefully one of the Canadian networks can add Subban as an analyst as he'd be perfect.

 

[dinodebino]

Interest wanes with age. Normal. It’s entertainement. Not real life. Real life is kids, job, payments, money, etc. You’re not unique. We all lose interest with age.

 

[Censored Toad]

Interest in hockey in its core marketplace (Canada) has been waning for over a decade. Minor hockey enrollment is at all time lows…

Could be also a function that times have been getting tougher for families to afford it . Hockey aint cheap

 

[Father Roy Richards]

Could be also a function that times have been getting tougher for families to afford it . Hockey aint cheap

My church is committed to providing hockey gear and assistance with enrollment for boys and girls in need, I believe in the value of team sports. Unfortunately many parents are still turned off by the current climate and hockey culture. The game deserves better than the current state. Praying!

 

[salbutera]

Could be also a function that times have been getting tougher for families to afford it . Hockey aint cheap

For sure - I agree without a doubt the cost of hockey is a huge factor but kids don’t just go outside to “play street hockey” which for a long time bridged the gap creating a huge hockey following / fanbase

 

[beowulf]

I saw some sensible ideas if the NHL is adamant about keeping these ads they should put a few things in place like no moving ads, no changing ads while play is going-on, etc, Which would make it less annoying to the tv viewer. I had not see a moving ad until I read the article that had some examples and ya I could see how, especially, when the puck is in the corner and you have this car zooming around the corner of corner of the ring in an add to be distracting.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

For sure - I agree without a doubt the cost of hockey is a huge factor but kids don’t just go outside to “play street hockey” which for a long time bridged the gap creating a huge hockey following / fanbase

Yeah in my experience growing up pre highschool in the 2000s, street hockey was usually contingent on if you actually played organized hockey most of the time

 

[themilosh]

I used to bleed habs, planned my day around game day. Meet up with friends watch game have a good time.
I knew all the players.1st to 4th line.
Last few years... its been in steady decline.

I am more a lurker then a poster now.

The amount of free time I have has been steadily declining and I have been putting more emphasis on other priorities which is eating into my time for the team. Taking care of a two year old. House work, less friends have all pulled away at it however I still could make time If I really wanted so its not necessarily those things in a vacuum.

I found that my love for the sport took a big nose dive due to the previous GM and the direction of the team. We are now looking much better and I am very optimistic about the future with the young core then a few year ago which is more reason to watch. Team is more exciting and its been great watching the kids play.

That being said, I am still having issues falling back into the game. I think the amount of ads/sponsors is having a much more profound effect on my enjoyment of the sports then originally thought, I figured they would blend into the back ground noise of the game ... but that hasn't happened yet.

I find the ads on the jerseys to be annoying, and then amount of sports betting ads that jump into between plays is down right disgusting and totally intrusive. I've even turned the game off after being bombarded by so many in quick succession. I mean I always knew the teams were a business and one of the ways they make money is via ads.

Between the commercials, in game ads, the freaking ads on ice that change, ads on the boards that change, helmets, jerseys its just a bit much for me.

So I ask to you, is anyone else feeling this or am I alone on this one.

Thanks and GHG!

dude - welcome to growing up. You have more responsibilities, maybe a family? work, etc... I love sports to no end and will watch a game "whenever I have a chance". Thing is real life priorities take precedence, which is about the time most die-hard teens move on to become die hard adults.

I haven't watched a full game this year, but I'm no less a die-hard. actually I missed the entire game last night for work/kids, so instead I got the score/stats updates on my magic phone.

I look forward to playoffs - that is when I engage more and get into it. REG season is just about jockeying for position in the standings: 1st Div, 1st conference, wild card, or even dead last place - all the same.. imo.

I saw some sensible ideas if the NHL is adamant about keeping these ads they should put a few things in place like no moving ads, no changing ads while play is going-on, etc, Which would make it less annoying to the tv viewer. I had not see a moving ad until I read the article that had some examples and ya I could see how, especially, when the puck is in the corner and you have this car zooming around the corner of corner of the ring in an add to be distracting.

i saw a moving ketchup bottle on the glass while watching the EDM game ---- lol.. how else are they gonna pay these asinine salaries?

 

[Father Roy Richards]

I saw some sensible ideas if the NHL is adamant about keeping these ads they should put a few things in place like no moving ads, no changing ads while play is going-on, etc, Which would make it less annoying to the tv viewer. I had not see a moving ad until I read the article that had some examples and ya I could see how, especially, when the puck is in the corner and you have this car zooming around the corner of corner of the ring in an add to be distracting.

Unfortunately it seems like a feature, not a bug. They want it to be eye catching and distracting. Sad

 

[Legend123]

Sometimes when ur a habs fan for life, nothing can change that. Not even terrible trades, aimless direction, ads, boring games, nothing. At the end of the day , or beginning, I always wake up excited to watch the habs and follow their long term shake up.

 

[Zam Boni]

Part of growing up, getting a family, house and kids. The time you can spend on YOU, and only you, is at a premium until the kids move out. Then you will have all the time in the world - and cash!
Hang in there 15-20 years and enjoy the ride.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I've learned to ignore the board ads especially after I realized that TSN and the US Networks actually do it much, much better than SportsNet. It's freaking amateur hour with them.

Other stations have it under better control so it's not as distracting.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Think I’ve already watched more games this year than I did last year until Dd was fired anyways

 

[holy]

My church is committed to providing hockey gear and assistance with enrollment for boys and girls in need, I believe in the value of team sports. Unfortunately many parents are still turned off by the current climate and hockey culture. The game deserves better than the current state. Praying!

Oh man we have a real holy man among us. It’s an honour!

 

[HuGort]

Anybody to 690 other day and that woman said the ads are distracting to the players?

 

[Habs]

just wait till the Pens complete another masterful tank and land Bedard this year, then I'll stop watching for good. They are so perfect at the planned crash and burn, work perfectly with the NHL to land the next great one. I'm calling it, Pens are going to win the lottery, and I'm done with the NHL for good lol

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I LIKE THE DIGITAL ADS MORE THAN THE STILL ONES AND THEY DONT BOTHER ME OR MY EYES

YEAH I SAID IT
SUE ME!!!

 

[BLNY]

The digital ads are a disaster. The ones on the fascia of the upper bowl are reflecting on the ice. When it shifts from dark to light ads there's a tangible impact on the image presented by the cameras and it's terrible.