# FCC To Crack Down On Loud Commericals **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2011, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025 "2011-12-13T11:29:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025/21 "2011-12-14T02:21:03Z")
> [@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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025/22 "2011-12-15T04:23:36Z")
Why are they doing this…NEXT YEAR and not 50 freaking years ago? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Janetda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@Janetda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janetda)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025/23 "2011-12-15T12:12:38Z")
I got one of these and it pretty much solves the problem. > **[Amazon.com: Terk VR1 Automatic TV Volume Controller : Electronics](https://www.amazon.com/Terk-VR1-Automatic-TV-Controller/dp/B00008VWOJ)** > > Automatically Adjusts Volume for Normal Listening Levels / Compatible with any Television using RCA Composite Connectors. Do you find your self repeatedly adjusting the volume on your TV and home-theater sound system? TERK VR-1 Volume Regulator is a... ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025/24 "2011-12-15T12:17:42Z")
I thought they promised to do this five or so years ago… ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025/25 "2011-12-15T13:49:34Z")
> [@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. Yes. With the burning passion of the sun, YES. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025/26 "2011-12-15T14:47:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025/27 "2011-12-15T16:33:19Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > 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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fcc-to-crack-down-on-loud-commericals/606025.md?page=1)