Remember the goofy [sandwich chain of some sort] ads on MSG broadcasts of Rangers games at the Garden last season? No shock where that was heading -- and how. It sounds like they'll be coming to Islanders games this season. Per USA Today:
The NHL has discussed how to use virtual ads during the upcoming season with its national TV partners in the USA and Canada. At least four NHL clubs are working with their regional sports networks to sell virtual ads next season — the Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and New York Rangers.
Naturally, MSG claims having received only "a handful" of complaints (and what, pray tell, quantifies "a handful" of spoken words?). Meanwhile [some such sandwich chain] claims "most of the comments were positive." Because people always call a business to commend the emergence of intrusive ads.
Personally, last year I found them to be yet one more distraction detracting from my enjoyment of viewing this sport (but then I would say that, wouldn't I?). One more shrapnel-hiding snowball in an avalanche of "new media!" multi-sensory overload that will eventually drive me away from spectator sports and into a nice, quiet, happy place free of ESPN noise (check!), Pierre McGuire's shouts and Mike Milbury's ... whatever it is he does.
But for now, as some said when they discussed this at Blueshirt Banter: "at least it's not ads on jerseys."