Do you find that TV commercial is much louder than its regular programming?
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People pay more attention when the sound gets louder, so for decades the networks would raise the sound level 3db automatically at the beginning of the commercial break and lower back down when the regular programming returns. I know this because I once considered building a device that automatically deleted commercials from recordings by detecting the increase in the sound levels.
If I heard correctly, I think there was a law passed recently which made the increase in volume for commercials illegal. Since the FCC doesn't regulate cable the same way as air broadcasts, I can't imagine anyone is going to notice a difference.
Wow! A device that automatically deletes commercial could have been a great invention and will make our TV watching time much better.
CALM (Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigiation) Act passed in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. President Obama signed it on December 15, 2010. The law, "requires the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe a regulation limiting the volume of audio on commercials transmitted by television broadcast stations, cable operators, and other multichannel video programming distributors."
Yes, no matter what a law says, broadcasters boost volume, average color boost, and anything they can. I remember the good old days when analog broadcasts let you put volume averaging on the audio line with a $50 box.
FCC has a year to ensure that the new regulation is adhered to.
Thanks, Mark for the answer/comment.
Yes. I am constantly saying "Mute, mute" to my husband when the commercials come on. When I'm visiting my parents it's even worse as my dad is hearing impaired and the tv is so loud to begin with.
Thank God for the "Mute" button.
Congratulations with your new book. I am happy for you.
Total Answers: 4, Total Page Views: 1,130.YES! It drives me crazy. And what do they think, that we don't know how to use the volume control? They do it in the movies here, also. We used to just see previews of forthcoming attractions but now they play ads and they're so loud I have to block my ears.
Hate advertisers with a passion!
It drives me crazy, as well. I understand that TV programs are made possible by the advertisers, but I might listen or watch their ad campaign if it is not too loud. The mute button is so useful but unfortunately not in the movie houses.
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