FCC To Crack Down On Loud Commericals

[BeaMyra]

From the USA TODAY (http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/story/2011-12-12/fcc-loud-commercials/51848692/1)

The Federal Communications Commission today is expected to pass regulations requiring broadcasters and cable and satellite TV systems to maintain constant volume levels. 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.

So what do you think, I say "It's about time."

[Private Bin]

Imagine if you were watching one of those subdued British dramas. You wouldn't even be able to hear what they were selling.

[BobLibDem]

Imagine if you were watching one of those subdued British dramas. You wouldn't even be able to hear what they were selling.

Doesn't sound like much of a problem to me. Now if they would just ban MagicJack commercials altogether...

[Hi Medlo]

I've just got in the habit of hitting 'mute' as soon as a break in the programming comes. I don't hear any commercials anymore. The remote is a powerful tool.

[panache45]

People have been complaining about loud commercials since I was a kid, back in the '50s. If they're serious about fixing this problem, I'll believe it when I see (hear) it. But there's another problem they should address: the changes in volume from one channel to the next. You'd think the cable/satellite companies would equalize them.

[don't ask]

I'll be interested to see how this works since broadcasters already maintain constant volume levels. They have no way of controlling apparent volume levels. Or is this some kind of joke?

[randwill]

I thought that the programming and the commercials were already at the same volume and it was just that the commercials had more of the loudest levels in them overall. By which I mean, the loudest sound on the show might be only a few seconds of a car crash, but that 'car crash level' would be heard throughout the entire length of the commercials.

[Spoke]

About time. I am tired of being awakened by commercials after I fall asleep.

[tdn]

But there's another problem they should address: the changes in volume from one channel to the next. You'd think the cable/satellite companies would equalize them.

That's the real problem. The other day I was watching a movie and I had to turn the volume up to about 75%. I had to turn down the commercials to about 40%, which is what I consider normal.

A few months ago I tried watching a movie OnDemand. With the volume at 100%, I could still barely hear it. But the commercials that it was punctuated with were blaring.

[tdn]

I thought that the programming and the commercials were already at the same volume and it was just that the commercials had more of the loudest levels in them overall. By which I mean, the loudest sound on the show might be only a few seconds of a car crash, but that 'car crash level' would be heard throughout the entire length of the commercials.

That's part of, but not the entire, problem. They're compressed so that the lows and highs are equally high. And there's very little silence at all.

[Mr. Moto]

Seems like a ban easily avoided, and not worth expending resources over.

I think a far worthier target is radio ads that feature sirens. These deserve heavy fines, IMHO.

[Omniscient]

Seems like a ban easily avoided, and not worth expending resources over.

I think a far worthier target is radio ads that feature sirens. These deserve heavy fines, IMHO.

And cell phone rings.

[pulykamell]

And cell phone rings.

And screeching tires or other traffic noises. Grrr....

[randwill]

An even worthier FCC target: advertising time to programming time ratio.

[Great Antibob]

I'll be interested to see how this works since broadcasters already maintain constant volume levels. They have no way of controlling apparent volume levels. Or is this some kind of joke?

They don't in the US.

And it's a matter of controlling the averaged volume level, which tends to be higher for commercials, at least in the US.

[Covered_In_Bees!]

I've just got in the habit of hitting 'mute' as soon as a break in the programming comes. I don't hear any commercials anymore. The remote is a powerful tool.

Same here. Been doing it for years.

[Drain Bead]

This is why DVRs exist.

[Jackmannii]

People have been complaining about loud commercials since I was a kid, back in the '50s. If they're serious about fixing this problem, I'll believe it when I see (hear) it.Yeah, really. People have been griping about this forever and the government has been "investigating" forever, and nothing ever happens.

Given that the FCC has become increasingly powerless in recent years (i.e. demise of the Fairness Doctrine, failure to prevent media conglomerates from dominating the industry), does anyone really think that now they're going to be effective in clamping down on SUDDENLY LOUD COMMERCIALS?

[Johnny L.A.]

Well, the FCC is finally being Proactiv!

[Kozmik]

Well, the FCC is finally being Proactiv!But wait! There's more!

[BigT]

I thought that the programming and the commercials were already at the same volume and it was just that the commercials had more of the loudest levels in them overall. By which I mean, the loudest sound on the show might be only a few seconds of a car crash, but that 'car crash level' would be heard throughout the entire length of the commercials.

That is it. But that also means that the average volume of the commercials is higher. Thirty seconds of loudness vs. 0 seconds of softness is going to raise the average higher than 2 seconds of loudness and 22 minutes of softness.

[Jamicat]

Why are they doing this...NEXT YEAR and not 50 freaking years ago? :dubious:

[Janetda]

I got one of these and it pretty much solves the problem.

http://www.amazon.com/Terk-VR1-Automatic-TV-Controller/dp/B00008VWOJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323950884&sr=8-1

[elfkin477]

I thought they promised to do this five or so years ago...

[Small Hen]

Seems like a ban easily avoided, and not worth expending resources over.

I think a far worthier target is radio ads that feature sirens. These deserve heavy fines, IMHO.

Yes. With the burning passion of the sun, YES.

[jackdavinci]

I'd like to see them do this with the show Supernatural. I spend most of the show alternating between turning the volume all the way up to be able to hear the muffled whispers that make up the dialogue and then turning it all the way down for the ear splitting action scenes.

[psiekier]

This is why DVRs exist.Until the DVR was invented, I never realized that without all the commercials, pre-game remarks, and interviews, an episode of Jeopardy! is only 17 minutes long.