FCC Will Soon Quiet Down Those Loud Commercials
- Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:28am by
Liz Klimas
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Is your TV remote’s mute button worn with overuse from years of silencing commercials during your favorite primetime TV show hour? Well your favorite button may get a bit of rest next year, as the Federal Communications Commission is set to quiet unreasonably loud commercials by requiring a constant volume to be maintained on broadcast, cable and satellite TV.
Making commercials several decibels louder than regular programming is a technique used to get attention and has also been cause for consumer complaint. But last year Congress passed the CALM Act (Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation), which President Obama signed into law, to give the FCC the authority to regulate said commercial volume.
USA Today reports that the regulation of volume by the FCC will go into effect next December:
The order, which goes into effect one year from today, “says commercials must have the same average volume as the programs they accompany,” says FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.
[...]
While normal listening levels average about 70 decibels for a typical TV broadcast — 60 is equivalent to a restaurant conversation; 80 to a garbage disposal — levels on a TV channel can vary by as much as 20 decibels.
To comply with the new law, broadcasters can use audio processors to measure the loudness of a program over its entirety and adjust the volume of commercials accordingly, says Joe Snelson, vice president of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. He said the goal is to avoid an abrupt change in volume when a show goes to commercial break.
Ralph Gardner, Jr., writes rather jokingly, but still in all seriousness, in the Wall Street Journal that taking commercial volume down a notch will not only save America’s ears — and mute buttons — but marriages:
No more than five minutes earlier my wife might have been watching the TV alongside me, complaining about the Wagnerian volume of the commercials just as vociferously as me. But as soon as she turns over and goes to bed it‘s no longer corporate America’s fault; it’s my fault.
“I was walking around the floor of the House, and members would tell me, ‘You’re going to help save my marriage,’” said Anna Eshoo, the courageous California congresswoman who sponsored the legislation. “It was a one-page bill. It really struck a chord with people everywhere.”
Before the passage of the law last year, the FCC did not have the authority to regulate commercial volume, which Wired pointed out at the time was a surprise considering it can fine channels thousands of dollars for curse words or “wardrobe malfunctions.” Before this authority was allotted to it, the FCC did have a an overview of volume control on its website and several sound mitigation techniques that could be employed in an effort to stifle the noise.
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Comments (86)
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:30pmI love commercials as they are like an intermission for channel surfing. Others are quite humorous and even genius. Half of them are better than the programming anyway.
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:46pmYou have a point there. During my near nine years of being stationed in Germany and Belgium I really learned what it was like to miss TV commercials. When you live outside of the country they really are a view of what is happening in our society. My dad used to fill an 8 hour VHS tape to send me and I would beg him to leave the commercials in. Had several of these tapes that stayed at the NCO club where they were played constantly. Got the same reaction to the commercials as I felt. After so many years of AFN‘s lame and boring ads for Gast Haus along with some old AFRTS commercials still in black and white during the ’80s, that’s enough to make you pull your hair out….The cisterns are coming, the cisterns are coming. You had to be there. Still, I don’t want commercials yanked, but would like to see the networks keep the volume the same as the existing show, and not as loud as the loudest segment of the night.
Report Post »Jinglebob
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 1:26pmAnd also please…NO MORE Door Bells on TV! It turns my dog insideout. The UPS and FEDEX trucks are bad enough.
Report Post »Kaoscontrol
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 1:50pmI create commercials (the good ones) for a living. We already limit the audio so it won’t go any higher than the loudest sound on a TV program. The problem is, the scene in a program proceeding a commercial might be quiet and dramatic with no music… followed by our commercial which may be upbeat with fun music and an announcer– it’s not louder per-se, just a different energy than the program that proceeds the advertisement.
Report Post »While I understand that many commercials are crappy and therefore seem intrusive, my feeling on the FCC regulating this is just another example of big government regulating every aspect of capitalism and our lives.
theninthplanet
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 2:21pmWish everyone would realize that the change in volume is how your recording device realizes a commercial is on. Now we won’t be able to skip through commercials anymore.
Report Post »Cosmos102
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:39pmI am so happy to hear this CALM act has been passed. I can’t stand constantly having to reach for my remote to turn down the ear piercing volume when it goes to commercial. We just bought a new tv that automatically reduces volume during commercials. Great invention. It doesn’t silence them, it just keeps the volume on the level where you set it with your remote.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:15pmI TIVO most commecials away. When I don’t,…I mute them…, especially if they are loud. I don’t mind a well-done humorous commercial but I cannot stand 99% of commercials because they are just plainly stupid and made for people with the IQ of an eggplant. There are too many between episodes. I did watch some commecials the other day on a commercial break just to see how many they crammed in. I saw 12 commecials in the break. That is completely ridiculous.
Report Post »satotbs
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:07pmI heard years ago that there was already a limit for a commercials sound level. It was supposed to restrict the commercials volumes to be no higher than the loudest sound in the regular program. I realize that it didn’t seem like it was being adhered to. Perhaps marketing of ad time by the stations included a perk where there would be at least one loud segment in the program they selling time for. Many TVs on the market now have volume management in their setup menus. Another thing that is really becoming annoying to me is the channel logos and schedule crawls or programming ads that are superimposed on the screen. They were once ghosted or limited to a few seconds. Now they are in your face and constant. Distracting at best but sometimes they even overlay some of the actual programs information or action.
Report Post »912er
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:59amAre the commercials really too loud? I have a Tivo so I never see any commercials….
Report Post »PunditPawn
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:10pmIts the grandparents that are suffering since they don’t know what TIVO is. I imagine the 30 second skip functions will be outlawed shortly now that you have revealed that you skip commercials. Look what they did to DVDs… just try to fast forward past the FBI warnings and crap.
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:48amMan, I hate those loud commercials myself, and after a career in the Army, and my time on a civilian police department I do have some hearing problems. Some of these commercials just rattle my ears sometimes a bit painfully. But, I can’t see the government getting into this. Every time I hear somebody say “There ought to be a law” I’m the first to point out why they should bite their tongues the next time that thought occurs to them. We have way too many nosey bodies in our lives and in Congress as it is now. The TV industry should take this into consideration and police themselves in this area. Otherwise, another attack on the 1st Amendment will occur.
Report Post »Watchyer6
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:36amI hate these LOUD commercials. It seems like they really dial it up on any commercial targeted at older people. The worst is one for Life Alert, one of those “I‘ve fallen and I can’t get up” products. It features an old lady laying on the floor yelling “Help! Help!” (extra loud, of course). This commercial usually runs late at night. I’m usually half asleep when it she starts yelling, and inevitably I jump up, thinking the cry for help is coming from upstairs in my house. Then I realize that it’s just that stupid commercial, and my heart stops pounding. Can you say annoying? That said, I think it should be voluntary on the part of the TV providers.
Report Post »SavEcig.com
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:31amSo it is possible for Congress o write a one page bill that has universal support and benefits the common good. I would rather they spend all their time on one-page bills rather than 2000 monstrocities that no one wants.
Report Post »SavEcig.com
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:29amSo it is possible for Congress to write a one page bill that has universal support and actually affects the common good. I would rather they spent all their time doing one-page bills instead of 2000 page monstrocities that no one likes, no one wants, and benefit no one.
Report Post »Amica
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:28amThe courageous California Congresswoman???
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:44amRofl!!!
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:25amHave way too much government already but very reluctantly I agree with FCC on this one. I have contacted the cable company and they say nothing can be done so hope they do something. Don’t watch much tv but what little I do watch I get more then my fair share of the blasting commercials.
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:12pmI agree with you and I have tried to let the TV industry as well as some advertisers know that for the most part I mute the noisy commercials. Apparently this has fallen on deaf ears. As I mentioned in another post, I hope the industry gets the idea to stop policing itself.
Report Post »Wurlitzer28
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 3:23pmYour cable company lied to you. It is very easy to install audio compression into the audio system such that anything over a given db level is automatically reduced to a preset level.
If I were receiving TV for free then a case can be made for the number of commercials and crappy advertisers controlling the volume but paying for cable or sat. should give us more commercial free content. Because of the high cost of cable I have no objection to never watching another commercial via fast forward on my DVR.
Report Post »Amica
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:25amSeriously? They didn’t have time to get a budget passed, but they had time for this????
How much did this cost? And how much will it cost the broadcasters to comply?
Don’t get me wrong, I hate the blaring commercials, but I never considered having a law passed.
Report Post »selloursouls
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:17amWow! Now we need Congress to save us from loud tv commercials? That mute button or volume control is really hard for us slack-jawed voting public to handle apparently. While we are at it, I need government to start cutting my steak, tying my shoes, and might as well wipe for me too. Our government has become a joke and unfortunately it isn’t a funny one. I wonder when the term ‘personal responsibility’ will be too politically incorrect to utter.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:27amBravo!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:45amRight on friend, we’re on exactly the same page.
What’s bad is look at most responses on this thread. Freedom only works for most when it’s their favored freedoms.
Report Post »Amica
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 7:39pmWell said! Does the government now need to legislate things that are merely annoying? I can think of a number of things:
People having very personal cell phone conversations (or arguments) on the bus.
Stupid looking hair styles.
Whining in general.
Nancy Pelosi (not a bad idea, actually).
Any kind of clothing on dogs.
Carrying dogs in purses.
The constant “Repost if you (fill in the blank)” facebook guilt trips.
people who email and or post on online comment boards without using any kind of punctuation and with absltly no regard 4 speling and or grmr.
I could go on, but now I’m annoyed. Dang.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:12amNo, the gov‘t shouldn’t regulate this-it was us (the consumer) who LOUDLY protested this volume assault on our ears. Perhaps, if we actually wrote a letter, made a phone call, sent an e-mail to the product headquarters…our power, as consumers, would mean more.
I’ve already e-mailed my cable provider regarding not being able to fast-forward programs offered “On Demand”. Informed them that I would be reducing my package. Less $$$$ for them because, if I wanted to watch commercials…I would just watch the program on regular TV. {Take THAT A&E for making Stephen King‘s ’Bag of Bones’ and absolute Bag of Commercials!!!!}
Report Post »tbb
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:06amI don’t like loud adverts but what a waste of time for congress when there are so many other things to worry about.
Report Post »Choctaw25
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:03amAdvertisers are wondering why they can’t get their message out, it’s because of the MUTE BUTTON STUPID.
Report Post »I hate it when I have to sit with the remote in my hand, with my finger over the “mute button”. I couldn’t tell you what 80% of the commercials on TV are about or what they have to say. I also fast forward through every commercial on my favorite programs that I have recorded. Thank God for the mute button and the DVR.
408 CheyTac
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:06pmAmen.
The other reason that advertisers can’t get their message out is the number of commercials. One excessively loud commercial wouldn‘t be that bad even two or three wouldn’t merit even looking for the remote past time… After all, human beings always lose the remote. But when 5 min. of programming is accompanied with an equal amount of time spent being screamed at about feminine hygiene products, and IRS tax deadbeat lawyers its pretty damn hard to take. Time for that skip forward button on the DVR. You would think with all the money they spend on advertising agencies, and big cost promotional spots, one of the geniuses would’ve taken the time to figure out exactly why everyone skips the commercials. Wouldn’t you?
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:57amThis is one piece of legislation I am happy for. It is nerve racking to be out of the room when one of these commercials come on and I have to run in and mute. Anything over 70 db can cause hearing loss. It is mostly those info commercials that are the culprits, especially e-Diets. They pump it up at least 10-20 db higher than the program I am watching.
My cable company always said they couldn’t do anything, but now I guess they might have too. However, I am thinking it is the maker of the commercial who is the culprit and they should be fined heavily for allowing the volume to increase over the program. Just make a flat law 70db and no more. If it does, it is at 10,000 fine.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:06amScrew that, change in volume is one of the tools my mythtv boxes use to automatically delete commercials from my shows.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:07amWhere is Congress (via the FCC) granted the power to determine how loud, soft or otherwise somebody can engage in freedom of speech? To truly defend the Constitution, one has to do so even when it is an inconvenience to one’s own preferences.
Report Post »Suchy
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:34amIf this is article is correct, it will not work! They have to go after the makers of the commercial.
Report Post »The audio carrier “may be modulated up to 80%” this allows for low or no sound then a loud explosion.
The commercial makers go the 80% route. Thats who they have to target.
seadude
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:57amWell i’ll be. Finally the FCC does something right. But! Watch out. Libturds are real good at miss direction people. Watch um.
Report Post »dthomps6
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:17amNo, this isn’t right. It‘s the cable company or TV station’s responsibility to control volume. The FCC has no right to but into volume even if 90% of the population supports it.
Notice that it says “average volume”. That means a car commercial can come on blaring as loud as possible, then the rest of the commercial can be quiet.
Report Post »Depressed_American
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:56amI am not into Government regulation of the private industry, however, if the private industry won’t regulate itself…. It’s about time!!!! The loudness of commercials are totally out of control!!!!!
Report Post »starman70
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:48am‘Bout time!!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:02amWhat a lie. The FCC under the last 3 administrations has said the EXACT SAME THING.
Dynamic sound, as it’s called, is a creation of the advertising industry.
When you see those last two words: “Advertising Industry” it’s important that you read HUGE, GIANT, ENORMOUS Money, influence and power… in government. If you want to have the proper perspective.
Now, who is it that the government has been catering to for (at least) the last 3 years? If you said BIG, GIANT industry you may go to the head of the class.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:47amWould they please turn the sound off when Obama comes on too, please.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:49amThe blessings of the mute button!!!
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:53amYes, the mute button, thank you for the reminder. I already use it for commercials.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:14amScrew that he comes on, the channel is changed. I will read what he has said; that telepromter lilt GRATES on me..
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:26am@NHWinter….I totally agree……there should be no sound when Oblahh Blahh comes on T.V….It’s bad enough to see his face. To hear him speak ….well that is just too much to ask.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:46amWatch Magnum Force. Start with something the majority will agree with, then quietly move on with your agenda….
Report Post »Depressed_American
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:06amI agree. There is something hidden in this!!! They have been pushing for the control of the internet, and I am wondering if they got it, and are not letting the public know about it……
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:40amOh well it‘s a good thing because that’s what I have always said, “Gee I wish the government would turn down the volume on those commercials, because I am incapable of taking care of myself.” I’m so glad they are trumpeting the cause of those too intolerant and lazy to turn down the volume.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:05amYou are such a putz, why should we have to hit our mute button every time one of these commercials come on. It is aggravating. If I am out of the room and one of these commercials come on, I have to stop what I am doing and go turn it off. I am deaf enough as it is, with constant tinnitus ringing in my ears, I don‘t need some stupid commercial raising it’s volume to get my attention. In fact, they do just the opposite. They are like that stupid Activ-On commercial. Annoying.
You know anything over 70db can cause hearing loss and if they crank it up to 80 or 90db, guess what in a few years you might lose your hearing.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:43am@Cofemale
The same reason you should walk away if some yahoo on a street corner starts screaming about you in some bizarre political or religious sense. Freedom is a two way street, and if you can’t grant it when you find it uncomfortable or inconvenient, then you won’t be granted it by others.
That simple.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:40amI hate that tactic.
My old American made RCA used to have circuitry that kept the volume output constant regardless of what the input signal did.
I don‘t know why none of the home theater makers implement such circuits in today’s gear. It seems such a simple thing.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:49amI’m not particularly certain why they think they have the power to do this, Constitutionally.
But, as I mentioned on another thread, we’re no longer working under the Constitution, we don’t even dress the windows with it any longer.
Report Post »Mikev5
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:15amI agree this could have been just a circuit in the television its self no need for legislation that trumps free speech and that is what this is.
I hate blaring loud commercials but forcing them to comply is trashing the constitution AGAIN and we say YES let’s do it?
This is like many years ago Norton internet security came with a commercial ad blocker for web surfing loved it well it disappeared two years after it came out and I don’t think it was because it was unpopular it was forced out by web commercial interests.
I now use ad muncher and I love this tool it removes 80% of web commercials from all web sites and restores your web speed look it up http://www.admuncher.com/
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:18amWhere in the Constitution would an amendment prevent the FCC the ability to invoke this volume control measure? This should be interesting. This change is just common sense and it is unscrupulous people who try to break the sense of decency to seek an advantage. They figure if they increase the sound output on their commercials, it will grab consumer’s attention. Grant you it does, but it does in a negative way. Also the increase in volume over time can induce hearing loss.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:47amAt cofemale
Congress is designated powers by the Constitution. Those powers NOT EXPLICITLY GRANTED are reserved to the states, or individuals, respectively.
The federal government is explicitly FORBIDDEN to even begin to consider telling us *anything* regarding freedom of speech, and that includes how loud we say it.
You’re using the leftist argument, and I‘ll bet you don’t know it. “Where in the Constitution does it say that the federal government CANNOT force us to buy Pampers?!?”
We’re sunk.
Report Post »dgremark12
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:40amWhy a year from now? Idiots can’t do anything right can they!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:18amThat is after the election, most laws seem to go into effect after the next election or later; for example the light bulb law… passed in 2007 — goes into effect in 2012.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:39amBoy, the government is really vigilant in ensuring that the private sector tows every line, dots every “I” and crosses every “T”. Would that they would exercise such vigilence over government.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:57amYes. It is all about control. The media is now State run. The FCC is being given full power over what information goes out to the public. Look at the “National testing” a few weeks ago. All dictatorships take control over the message. Control it, control the masses.
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