Canada’s federal regulator has ordered broadcasters to turn down the volume on loud television commercials.
The long-awaited decision comes after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission received thousands of complaints from ordinary citizens about loud ads.
It has now announced that broadcasters must put a lid on the loudness of TV commercials by next Sept. 1.
Get daily National news
The CRTC’s chairman, Konrad von Finckenstein, says complaints have escalated over the years.
He says broadcasters have allowed what he calls “ear-splitting” ads to disturb viewers and have left the regulator little choice but to set out clear rules that will put an end to them.
The commission says 2009’s international standard for measuring and controlling television signals will apply to minimize fluctuations in loudness between programming and commercials.
“This decision means that viewers will no longer have to reach for their remotes to manually control the volume when regular programming cuts to commercial advertisements,” says a CRTC statement.
“Broadcasters will have to ensure that both programs and ads are transmitted at the same volume.”
Draft regulations requiring Canadian broadcasters to adhere to the international standard will be published for comment before the end of this year.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.