California has issued a decisive directive to major streaming platforms—including household names such as Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and YouTube—ordering them to end the long‑standing practice of increasing audio intensity during commercial segments. This change, which represents a significant step in digital consumer protection, was formally codified when Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law on a Monday, signaling the state’s commitment to regulating sound consistency across digital entertainment. Beginning in July 2026, streaming providers will be legally obligated to ensure that all advertisements broadcast on their platforms play at the same audible level as the programs or films that precede and follow them. In effect, this means that the jarring leap in volume that viewers often experience when an ad break interrupts their movie or series marathon will soon become a thing of the past.
The legislation, officially titled Senate Bill 576, was originally introduced in February by California State Senator Tom Umberg. His motivation for crafting this proposal arose from a surprisingly relatable and human experience—one of his own staff members had complained about how excessively loud streaming advertisements were continuously startling his household and, more specifically, disrupting the much‑needed sleep of his newborn child. This anecdotal frustration quickly became a symbolic example of a broader public concern, illustrating how the modern digital viewing environment, though convenient, can still cause unforeseen intrusions into private and family life. In a statement released after the law’s passage, Senator Umberg remarked that his inspiration stemmed from “every exhausted parent who has worked tirelessly to lull a baby to sleep, only to see that fragile peace shattered by an ear‑splitting streaming advertisement.” His words encapsulate a common frustration shared by countless viewers who have long endured these unwelcome bursts of sound.
California’s new statute did not arise in isolation; rather, it was modeled on a pre‑existing federal regulation known as the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act. That national law, enacted years earlier, compels television broadcasters to maintain consistent audio levels between commercial content and regular programming. However, the CALM Act notably excludes online streaming services from its scope, leaving a regulatory gap that states like California have now chosen to fill. Because of California’s vast influence and leadership within the entertainment and technology industries—both as a creative hub and as a precedent‑setting legislative body—this state law may well become a benchmark for the rest of the country, encouraging nationwide alignment on digital sound regulation. Its implications extend far beyond the borders of the state, potentially shaping future federal policy and industry standards.
Governor Newsom, in his official remarks accompanying the bill’s signing, highlighted the clarity of the public message his administration had received from residents. “We heard Californians loud and clear,” he stated with deliberate irony, “and what’s evident is that people simply do not want their streaming commercials blasted at a higher volume than the programs they are enjoying.” He went on to emphasize that by enacting Senate Bill 576, California is effectively reining in a widespread nuisance across all major streaming platforms—spaces that, until this point, had not been bound by the commercial‑volume regulations adopted by Congress back in 2010. The governor characterized the new law as a pragmatic step toward fairness and comfort in the digital entertainment experience, offering consumers a more balanced and less intrusive auditory environment while watching their favorite series or films online.
Taken together, this initiative represents more than just a technical adjustment to how sound is managed—it underscores a larger cultural shift toward respecting the digital audience’s right to an undisturbed and harmonious media experience. As California once again asserts its role as a pioneer in consumer‑friendly legislation, both the entertainment industry and the broader public prepare for a quieter, more civilized streaming future, where technology and human comfort finally meet at the same volume.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/794145/california-law-noisy-ad-volume-streaming-services
