California Passes Law to Regulate Volume of Streaming Service Commercials
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill, SB 576, into law to prevent commercials from startling viewers with loud audio. The bill, introduced by State Sen. Thomas Umberg, expands on the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act of 2010, which applied to broadcast television and cable networks. The new law will now include streaming services, ensuring that commercials do not exceed the volume of the program being watched. Newsom emphasized the importance of addressing Californians' concerns about loud commercials in his statement.
Umberg highlighted the impact of loud ads on California households, citing the stress they can cause, especially for exhausted parents trying to soothe a sleeping baby. The bill aims to provide peace and quiet by regulating the volume of streaming ads to match the content being viewed. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, giving streaming services time to comply with the new regulations.
For more details on the bill, you can access the full text here. Stay updated on other top California news stories, download our app, subscribe to our morning newsletter, and follow us on YouTube for more content.