( Updated 9-5-12 with a podcast interview of myself on the issue)
Over the last few years, I’ve produced a few pieces talking about loud TV commercials and how annoyed the TV viewer can be with that scenario. Today I was doing a follow up and noticed something new has developed.
Here’s the quick and dirty of it:
Ads sound louder to anyone watching TV.
The TV industry & the FCC used to say that ads are no louder than the loudest part of the TV show they’re transmitted with.
Dynamic Range Compression is used to modify the high and low points of the data (sound) leaving the mid-range audibles alone. Supposedly smothering the volume of an ad.
Yet consumers still had to always either mute or turn down their TVs when ads come on.
And… TV advertisers are necessary. They dropped $9 billion in ad fees with the basic networks for the 2012-2013 TV season so that the nets can produce our favorite shows.
Despite years of consumer grumbling, the FCC always seemed to refer consumers to their local networks about the issue. The FCC had years to tackle this issue but did nothing to help alleviate the consumer’s perception.
Then along came the CALM Act, (“Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act.” ) introduced by Rep Anna G. Eshoo. (Thank you Anna!)
Congress passed it.
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