Congress Bans Loud TV Ads, goes to President for approval

[The Straight Story]

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation, or CALM, Act, which prevents TV ads from playing at a volume noticeably higher than the programs during which they air.

The measure's sponsor in the House was Rep. Anna Eshoo of Atherton.

“Consumers have been asking for a solution to this problem for decades, and today they finally have it,” Eshoo said in a statement.

Under the CALM Act, the FCC must require advertisers to adopt industry technology within one year that modulates sound levels and prevents overly loud commercials.

"Consumers will no longer have to experience being blasted at," she added. "It’s a simple fix to a huge nuisance.”
The bill has already passed the Senate and now goes to President Obama for approval.

http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/pulse-of-the-bay/congress-bans-loud-tv-ads/

[Arkana]

1. I think I can get behind this.

[realisticphish]

2. Is this a vital issue?

uh, no. We have better things to worry about.

But, there's no denying that this will be nice

[Lucinda]

10. Yawp

I don't have cable...but I DO remember how annoying it was. :)

[JackRiddler]

24. It's better than all the destructive things they could be doing instead, isn't it?

[realisticphish]

30. true nt

[robinlynne]

3. hallelujah. If it isn't bothering you, you probably have tivo.

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. Excellent

I hate that shit.

[PBS Poll-435]

5. 'Billy Mays Here for OxyClean!'

Oh wait...

[nykym]

6. I think this is

great, but if it is so simple why do we have to wait a year?

[mindfulNJ]

7. Thank God

One of the most pressing issues of our time solved at last.:eyes:

[FSogol]

8. As long as the important things are addressed.

:shrug:

[nyc 4 Biden]

9. i support this.

that is annoying as hell.

[TorchTheWitch]

11. this law was passed before years ago

Looks like either the law got overturned or no one followed it anymore. I do remember that when I was younger increasing the volume of ads on TV was made illegal... and this was back when few people had remotes. For awhile there we didn't have these loud ads anymore that you had to turn the volume on the tube down to tolerate. Wonder what happened to the old law.

It would be nice if they did this with the internet, too. I hate being blasted by an ad when watching a video and then have to strain to hear the video.

[Drale]

12. While not a vital issue

this is long over due to be dealt with.

[benld74]

15. Yes BUT lobbyists got to it - commercials CAN be as loud AS the loudest part of the show,,

and thats not right

[Tesha]

20. Expect a lot more explosions, at least one per program.

Even on the cooking shows -- if there's a pressure-cooker
involved, watch out!

Tesha

[benld74]

13. WHAT!? SPEAK UP!!!! WHAT?!?!?

[Newest Reality]

14. There are probably

a handful of good shows -- entertaining or informative -- that many people choose for themselves to watch. However, that comes with a price if you consider the implications of the entire stream of media simulation that can be allowed to pour out of that reality-influencing device. IMO, the glowing rectangle is one of the most important strategies in manufacturing consent, fulfilling the silent, class war, etc.

For children, who would invite a total stranger into their home and let it tell their kids whatever he/she/it wanted to? Yet, there it is.

If you ever meet Television-free folk, consider asking them about the impact it has had on them and/or their families and friends. You might discover something interesting. One thing for sure, the decibel level of commercials won't concern them.

[Obamanaut]

16. Yay! Another 'add-on' for the list of accomplishments. "Muted pesky

teevee commercials"

Now, about those two wars, the homeless, the jobless, the hungry, et al.

[NRaleighLiberal]

17. Loud or less loud, no matter - the mute button is still our best friend!

[leftstreet]

18. Why weren't customer complaints enough? Oh that's right, no competition

There won't be enough hours in the day to regulate and restrain the GloboMonogarch Corporations

[wtbymark]

19. So, is this left up to the station engineers?

some stations don't have, or can't afford, an Aphex 2020MKIII or a brand new DBMax. Different sources come in at different levels, if a station doesn't have a backend processor - what comes in goes out. Now, I can slam our audio board at +10dbfs, nothing is leaving this station greater than -1dbfs thanks to our Digital Broadcast Maximizer. Ok, granted the DBMax is 5k and the Aphex w/options can run 8k, but hell, try and get some of these stations even to pay for some screen wipes. I know the problem is anoying, but, short of the FCC fining the stations for 'out of tolerance' I don't know how this could be implimented.

[dbt]

22. You raise good points.

Now...who will be in charge of going to every production studio in the country and making sure they don't compress the audio to where the needle barely moves (and thus sounds louder than a bucket of fuck when compared with "program" audio levels with their wide dynamic range)?

Then, we'll need squadrons of highly-trained enforcers to go into the networks and local stations to make sure they ride gain in a "proper" fashion.

Could be a growth industry, with lots of jobs to be had. But don't look for any actual relief from this posturing.

[Glassunion]

21. Finally some of the progress we were promised!!!

Loaded with :sarcasm:

[kestrel91316]

23. I love this law, but it won't be enforced. Just watch.

[DainBramaged]

25. I fall asleep to MSNBC, and have been woken so often by loud ads

in the middle of the night I put a cable music channel on instead.


What a blessing this is.

[JackRiddler]

26. This is going to be the most popular bill ever. Seriously.

What was the vote?

If anyone voted against it, it will sway elections! (Sad but true.)

[Bluenorthwest]

27. Yippppeeeeee!

I'm calling Eshoo to say thanks!

[Initech]

28. Jobs? Nope. Economy? Nope. Ending the wars? Nope. Bush tax cuts? Nope.

Loud TV ads? Holy shit, we'd better shut down the government quick and find a solution to this problem!!!!! :crazy:

[Arkana]

32. Yes, because the United States Senate can only consider one bill at a time!

:eyes:

[somone]

29. So how are people going to hear commercials for hearing aids?

[Orsino]

31. And does nothing to regulate the bullshit in between. n/t

[lise]

33. here's the money quote:

“Consumers have been asking for a solution to this problem for decades, and today they finally have it,” Eshoo said in a statement.


DECADES to get a bill to turn down the volume on teevee commercials.

How long do you think it'll take to re-instate Glass Steagall or something, I dunno....REALLY IMPORTANT?

What. A. Bunch.Of. Losers.

Now they'll be on to the next pressing matter. like naming a sports stadium or declaring an un-observed "holiday" or something.

Meanwhile, Rome burns.