California has officially banned noisy television commercials under a new law signed on Monday by Governor Gavin Newsom, requiring advertisers to keep the volume of ads consistent with the programs they interrupt.
For years, viewers across the United States have complained about the jarring experience of having advertisements blare louder than the shows they are watching. One moment, audiences may be enjoying a tranquil nature documentary, the next, they’re scrambling for the remote as an ad shouts about a product.
Governor Newsom said the move responds to widespread frustration from Californians. “We heard Californians loud and clear, and what’s clear is that they don’t want commercials at a volume any louder than the level at which they were previously enjoying a program,” he stated after signing the bill.
The new legislation updates older laws that applied only to broadcast and cable providers, expanding the rule to include streaming platforms, a major step in adapting consumer protection to modern viewing habits.
What you should know
California’s new law marks a first-of-its-kind expansion of advertising volume regulations to cover streaming services.
The move reflects growing concerns about viewer comfort and modernizes U.S. advertising standards for the digital era.
