Gov. Gavin Newsom Bans Loud Ads on Netflix: Reasons Explained

Do you ever have the experience of getting comfortable to watch your favorite show only to be startled awake by a jarringly loud advertisement? Governor Gavin Newsom can relate. He recently signed a bill that puts an end to those obnoxious loud ads on streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

The new law, Senate Bill 576, requires streaming platforms to adhere to the same guidelines set by a federal law from 15 years ago that restricts the volume of commercials to match the shows they accompany. President Barack Obama signed the CALM Act in 2010, aiming to prevent excessively loud TV ads.

This move comes after Democratic Sen. Tom Umberg shared a personal anecdote about how a loud ad disrupted his household peace, waking his infant daughter. Inspired by this experience, Umberg championed the bill, which passed without opposition in California’s Legislature.

Despite some pushback from the entertainment industry, which argued that controlling ad volumes on streaming platforms is more challenging, the consensus was clear: loud ads are a nuisance that need to be silenced. Now, thanks to this new law, Californians can enjoy their shows without being startled by overly loud commercials.