Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
A consolation prize as we travel down the road to serfdom:
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed legislation to prevent advertisers from abruptly raising the volume of TV commercials louder than regular programming.
The law signed by Obama on Wednesday requires the Federal Communications Commission to adopt industry standards coordinating ad decibel levels to those of the regular program within one year.
The new regulations go into effect a year after that. They apply to all broadcast providers, including cable and satellite.
Lawmakers who sponsored the bill said they were reacting to their constituents’ complaints about abrasively loud television commercials — and their own experiences.
The FCC has been receiving complaints since the 1960s about jarring sound bursts when commercials come on, but had not regulated program or commercial volume.
That last sentence cracks me up. The FCC has been receiving complaints about loud commercials since the 1960's and only now -- after 50 years and after the private sector invented the TiVo to deal with this very issue -- have they finally decided to respond. Government efficiency at its finest.
(h/t JammieWearingFool)
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Comments :
Aug '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
My remote control has a volume button. Problem solved.
Sep '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Remote control? What's that? And what is this TiVo that's mentioned?
I'm glad to see government allows me to enjoy a TV show without getting up to twist the volume dial. I was beginning to think this was part of Michelle Obama's anti-obesity program. But now, thanks to the FCC, I can continue to eat chips and drink beer without interruption.
Nov '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
As I understand it, the law already was that commercials couldn't exceed the maximum volume of a program. Normally TV shows play in the lower end of their dynamic range, saving the louder moments for explosions and such. Meanwhile commercials would play mostly in the upper end of the dynamic range, thus sounding louder.
I wonder if the new regulation uses average volumes?
May '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Why is there no "Legislators Annonymous"? They write laws like a drunk takes to drink.
Aug '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
They're relying on the Trivia Clause.
Oct '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Without getting geeky (I hope), volume levels (dB) are not at all what the issue is, and the FCC will not, even if I approved their getting involved, be able to quantify the problem into a regulation. Think of it this way; a half hour program gets sufficient processing to make the audio stream maintain the perception of realistic levels in the normal environment, and invests just enough effort to make that work well. A 30 second commercial, costing upwards of $10,000 per play on a major station, and perhaps airing all over the country dozens or more times a day, has an investment of millions of dollars for that commercial. They process and finalize to the max to be sure their commercial punches through anything that could compete for your attention. Do not expect the FCC or any other bureaucracy to defeat that vested interest. They will be outsmarted at every turn. So... keep your remote control handy for a long time to come, you'll still need it.
May '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
When Kenneth raised this issue earlier this month, there was some debate about whether or not this problem represents a market failure.
My solution to advertising overload was simple. I don't watch TV anymore. Hello, Netflix! I generally avoid radio for the same reason.
May '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Raycon, are you saying it's more a matter of equalization? I would think TV show producers would be just as savvy about what frequencies commonly form background noise in homes. You're saying commercial producers put more time into mastering?
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Aaron Miller: When Kenneth raised this issue earlier this month, there was some debate about whether or not this problem represents a market failure.
My apologies to Kenneth for missing that post and for causing there to be a second post about this inane topic in one month!
Jul '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Cast me from your august company if you will, but I welcome this legislation the way I do all noise ordinances. Not all of us are rooted to our chair with remote poised to mute the bellow of a used car salesman invitin' us to come on down. We drift to the kitchen or the bathroom and are caught out by the switch from programming to thunderous commerce. The makers of the commercials that I ignore -- like Aaron Miller I cleave mostly to Netflix -- are sophisticated and easy on the ear. Madison Avenue is smart enough not to annoy a prospective customer.
Edited on Dec 16, 2010 at 7:37pmDec '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Mixed feelings on this. I watch a lot of TV late at night while others are sleeping and having to grab for the remote every few minutes to keep from waking them is a pain. So I applaud the result. On the other hand, is this really something Washington should be doing?
Dec '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Like my mother always said, "Who needs one of them newfangled things? That's what I got kids for. Now run down to the corner and get me some cigarettes."
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
If we ever get around to considering prerequisites for obtaining the franchise, perhaps we should disqualify the aforementioned individuals who complain to members of Congress about the volume of TV commercials.
Jul '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Allready the schematics are among us doing the devil's work. They will offer a rival slate of editors at the annual convention. There will be a stabbing in a dark alley.
Jul '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Make that schismatics. And it will be a shooting on the convention floor.
.
Aug '10
Re: Sick of Those Loud Commercials?
Aaron - it's probably more about audio compression - the technology of squashing the loudest volume and boosting the softer volume. Then the entire audio track can be pumped up louder. Advertisers are squashing the snot out of their audio tracks.
Extreme compression in music has created what we call the "brick" mix: loud all the way until the song is over. (The visual realization of the song's audio frequencies literally looks like a brick on the computer screen.)
Compression can be great, even necessary perhaps, when listening in a noisy environment - like your car. But it can be aggravating in normal listening environments.
For a comparison of how compression has changed over the decades - compare the base-line volume levels of any modern pop recording with something from the 60s or 70s. The older recording (unless it's been re-mastered to maximize its output) will sound very quiet in comparison.