California Bans Loud Streaming Ads In Landmark Sound Regulation Law

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California has passed a landmark law aimed at ending the era of blaring TV commercials.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 576 (SB 576) into law on Monday, October 6, 2025, targeting the volume spikes that often startle viewers during ad breaks on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

For years, audiences across the U.S. have complained about the sudden blasts of sound that accompany advertisements, forcing them to scramble for the remote to turn down the noise.

The new legislation ensures that commercials can no longer exceed the volume of the programs they interrupt. It effectively extends the federal Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act of 2010 originally applied to traditional broadcast and cable TV—to cover streaming services for the first time.

“We heard Californians loud and clear,” Governor Newsom said after signing the bill. “They don’t want commercials louder than the shows they’re watching.”

The law reportedly gained momentum after a legislative aide’s newborn was frequently awakened by noisy streaming ads.

Given that many major streaming companies are headquartered in California, the law is expected to ripple across the industry, setting a new national benchmark for ad sound regulation.

The commercial volume limits for streaming services will officially take effect on July 1, 2026.