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Senate votes to turn down volume on TV commercials


Posted: Sep 30, 2010

Senate votes to turn down volume on TV commercials

WASHINGTON – Legislation to turn down the volume on those loud TV commercials that send couch potatoes diving for their remote controls looks like it'll soon become law.

The Senate unanimously passed a bill late Wednesday to require television stations and cable companies to keep commercials at the same volume as the programs they interrupt.

The House has passed similar legislation. Before it can become law, minor differences between the two versions have to be worked out when Congress returns to Washington after the Nov. 2 election.

Ever since television caught on in the 1950s, the Federal Communication Commission has been getting complaints about blaring commercials. But the FCC concluded in 1984 there was no fair way to write regulations controlling the "apparent loudness" of commercials. So it hasn't been regulating them.

Correcting sound levels is more complicated than using the remote control. The television shows and ads come from a variety of sources, from local businesses to syndicators.

Managing the transition between programs and ads without spoiling the artistic intent of the producers poses technical challenges and may require TV broadcasters to purchase new equipment. To address the issue, an industry organization recently produced guidelines on how to process, measure and transmit audio in a uniform way.

The legislation, sponsored by Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., requires the FCC to adopt those recommendations as regulations within a year and begin enforcing them a year later. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., is the driving force behind the bill in the House.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a co-sponsor, said it's time to stop the use of loud commercials to startle viewers into paying attention. "TV viewers should be able to watch their favorite programs without fear of losing their hearing when the show goes to a commercial," he said.

;

IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!! - Sorry - had to shout that out

[ In Reply To ..]
That's funny because last night I was blasted with some commercial and I said to DH that I wish some politicians would get that to stop. The only thing the loud commercials do is "p" me off so much that I refuse to buy their product no matter how good it looks.

what a waste of time and money - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
This is what Congress can accomplish? When we have millions of unemployed with no prospects, a failing financial future, foreclosure crisis, political unrest the likes of which have not been seen in the US for how long (??) and they are worried about commercials instead of actually doing something to help people? What a freaking joke. How much time and expense did they waste on this that could and should have been used for something far more significant.

Absolutely. Cant afford to spare a single moment or - spend a single penny on

[ In Reply To ..]
anything that involves unanimity. They should continue due diligence in cranking out those NO-NO-1000-times-NOs until the closing bell brings a merciful end to this constipated session of Congress.

I will be delighted not to have to continuously increase and decrease the volume when programs break for commercials, then resume. My fingers get enough abuse as it is during the course of the workday, and I do not find screaming sales pitches and policing volumes terribly relaxing during the precious few moments I can find to watch a little TV.

Not so - it's a very important issue to me - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
What may be a waste of time to you is an important issue to others.

I'm hoping they can do something about those lame commercials blasting my ears out if I don't mute in time.

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