California Bill to Silence Streaming Ads Nationwide: How a Waking Baby Sparked Change
If you’ve ever been rudely awakened by a ridiculously loud commercial while watching your favorite show, you’re not alone. Thanks to an 8-month-old baby in California, state Senator Tom Umberg has introduced Senate Bill 576 to tackle the issue of excessively loud streaming ads on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video.
While federal law already prevents TV broadcasters from airing commercials that are much louder than the program itself, this rule doesn’t apply to streaming services. Umberg’s bill aims to change that and bring streaming platforms in line with traditional broadcasters.
Little Samantha, the baby at the center of this issue, inadvertently became the youngest lobbyist in California when her disrupted sleep sparked her parents, Zach and Rachel Keller, to take action. After a blaring commercial woke Samantha from her slumber one too many times, her parents decided something had to be done to protect everyone’s eardrums.
The bill passed through the state Senate and Assembly committee with ease, but faced opposition from the Motion Picture Association, which argued that it might negatively impact smaller, independent streaming services. Umberg, however, remains determined, believing that streaming platforms have the capability to control the volume of their ads and provide a more enjoyable viewing experience for all.
While the big streaming companies have remained tight-lipped on the issue, Samantha and her tired parents are hoping for a resolution that will allow everyone to enjoy their shows in peace. So, the next time you settle down for a cozy TV night, spare a thought for little Samantha and her fight for quieter commercials.
