California Law Forces Netflix, Hulu To Turn Down Ad Volumes

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law banning excessively loud advertisements on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime that could become a de facto national standard. From a report: The new California law is aimed at addressing what the Federal Communications Commission has called a 'troubling jump' in TV ad noise complaints, fueled by streamers airing commercials louder than the shows and movies they accompany.

It's modeled off a federal law passed in 2010 that caps ad volumes on cable and broadcast TV, but doesn't apply to streaming services. Given the Golden State's massive sway in the entertainment industry, the new law may strong-arm streamers into shushing commercials nationwide. 'We heard Californians loud and clear, and what's clear is that they don't want commercials at a volume any louder than the level at which they were previously enjoying a program,' Newsom said in a statement. 'California is dialing down this inconvenience across streaming platforms.'

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