california bans loud commercials on netflix, hulu, and other streaming services

New California Law Addresses Streaming Ad Volume

A recently enacted California law is designed to regulate excessively loud advertisements on popular streaming services. Platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video will now be required to ensure commercial audio levels are consistent with the programming content.

The legislation was officially signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday. It will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Regulations on Advertisement Audio

According to the bill’s language, streaming services will be prohibited from broadcasting commercial audio at a volume exceeding that of the accompanying video content. This aims to create a more consistent and comfortable viewing experience.

Governor Newsom stated that the law directly responds to concerns voiced by California residents. He emphasized that viewers do not wish for commercials to interrupt their viewing with jarringly high volumes.

Following the CALM Act Model

This new legislation draws inspiration from the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act of 2010. The CALM Act previously prevented television commercials from being aired at a louder volume than the programs themselves.

Consequently, streaming services operating within California will now be subject to the same volume regulations as traditional television broadcasters.

The Inspiration Behind the Bill

Senate Bill 576 was introduced by California State Senator Tom Umberg. The impetus for the bill stemmed from a personal experience shared by his legislative director, Zach Keller.

Keller reported that the loud volume of streaming commercials repeatedly disturbed his newborn daughter, Samantha, while she was sleeping.

Aimed at Improving Home Viewing

Senator Umberg explained that the bill was motivated by the desire to protect the peaceful enjoyment of California households. He highlighted the frustration of parents whose children are awakened by unexpectedly loud advertisements.

SB 576 seeks to ensure that streaming ads do not disrupt the viewing experience by exceeding the volume of the desired programming.

Potential Nationwide Impact

Considering California’s significant role within the entertainment industry, this law may encourage streaming platforms to adopt similar volume standards across the entire country. The change could lead to quieter commercials for all viewers.