TV Viewers Rejoice, Loud Commercials No More!

If you’re among the many who reach for the volume control every time a TV show goes to commercial then today is a day to celebrate. Maybe you’ve noticed or maybe you thought you were just going crazy, but TV commercials are often irritatingly louder than the program you are watching. You can now check this every day nuisance off your list because the FCC has stepped in to put an end to loud commercials.

CNN reports about the FCC’s new ban on excessively loud television commercials which states the ads must maintain the “same average volume” as the show they are airing with. The FCC admits the new regulations passed by congress known as the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) is in direct response to the thousands of complaints they’ve received from television viewers over the years. Loud commercials have been a leading source of complaints at the FCC since 2002.

In the past, the FCC has just advised viewers with complaints to mute their TV’s or reduce the volume during commercials, but they are hopeful that CALM will solve the problem now. The FCC does not plan on actively monitoring broadcasters, but will instead enforce the new regulations based on consumer complaints.

What do you think of the new FCC regulations banning broadcasters from airing loud commercials?

Is this something that has annoyed you in the past?