FCC
 

Obama Signs CALM Act on Volume of TV Commercials

But, But some can opt out if can show a hardship. Another feel good law. F$#k

I sincerely hope it's not just a feel-good law.

I hope it's as effective as the "Do Not Call" registry has been.

That 'increase the volume with commercials' was the number one FCC complaint every year since 2000. This 'constant volume' requirement has been an ongoing solution in the FCC only in the past two years. It took that long to finally get it implemented for the same reasons why Republicans also want to subvert net neutrality.

Broadcasters charged more for commercials that were aired with audio volume increased. Therefore would purchase politicians to protect that income.

Sort of like Obamacare opt outs. :D

I'd read that the volume limit the FCC imposes is across the board, but commercials hit that level more often, if not constantly.

So, I guess I don't understand what they are currently saying: that the volume cannot exceed the programs they accompany? Well, the loudest scene on say, a CSI, is going to be about your current volume of commercials. TV shows and movies get loud, go soft, get loud. Ever try to watch something quietly? If there is subdued dialogue, you have to turn it up. Then something explodes and wakes up the dead.

There is a process called normalization by which audio volumes become more uniform: the peaks get squashed, the quiet parts get made louder, all depending on what settings you use during the process. I have no idea if this concept is addressed in the new law, I'm just pointing out that if they wanted to, they could be broadcasting a version of CSI that didn't require you to adjust the volume on your TV constantly.

Conspiracy theories aside, they may simply be catering to the high-tech viewers, whose sound systems are crystal-clear enough that the whispered dialogue is still audible at some standard middle volume. Most people don't have the speakers or the living room acoustics for that, but the ones who do are often the ones with the money and desire to buy the super-duper movie packages, etc., so no one wants to drive that business away by offering lower-quality sound to appease the masses.

don't they have TV technology that could fix this? My dad's Harley used to adjust it's volume for road noise ffs... and that was in like 1992 or something.

Subtitles.

It's what you live with when you and your Dad have hearing issues, and your Mum is hyper-sensitive to noise and prone to whine loudly about it so you can't hear a damn thing anyway. Last time we went to the cinema she shifted and twitched the whole film because of the volume. And when we went to see my niece's school production of Rent she tutted and glared at the band frequently and distractingly all the way through- actually the sound levels were appalling - embarrassing because A works in Sound - but at least I knew the libretto and could enjoy what I could hear.

If I'm up when the 'rents are in bed I am constantly watching for the white square in the corner of the screen that signals adverts are coming, with one finger poised on the volume button. I would be glad of such a law.

The good news is I've bought Dads a pair of wireless headphones for Christmas (cheap, so I've no idea of the quality, but it's gotta be better than reading every damn word). I'll be able to hear everything in comfort! If'n they arrive in time...

WHAT'S THIS!?

Ah - may be a UK thing?
There's a tiny white square on the top right hand side of the screen, and a flickering one on the left. It's useful when deciding whether you really need that wee right now, or if you can hold off for a minute.

Projectionists would watch for that signal. That is when the next movie reel was started.