California is turning down the volume on disruptive commercials, bringing much-needed quiet to the streaming experience. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 576 into law on October 6, 2025, ensuring that advertisements on streaming platforms will no longer blare at a volume significantly louder than the programs they interrupt.
The Sound of Frustration: A Growing Complaint
For years, viewers have been subjected to the jarring experience of suddenly being startled by excessively loud commercials while enjoying movies and TV shows on various streaming services. This common annoyance has led to widespread frustration, often resulting in viewers scrambling for their remote controls to quickly mute or lower the volume during ad breaks. The issue became particularly prominent as streaming services became the dominant mode of media consumption, yet remained largely unregulated regarding ad loudness.
From Baby Samantha to Statewide Legislation
The impetus for SB 576, according to Senator Thomas Umberg, a key proponent of the bill, came from personal experience. The legislation was notably inspired by the plight of baby Samantha, whose father, Zach Keller, serves as Senator Umberg’s legislative director. Reports indicate that sudden, loud streaming ads would frequently disturb the baby’s sleep, highlighting a broader issue faced by parents and households across the state. “We heard Californians loud and clear,” stated Governor Newsom, emphasizing the public’s desire for a more consistent and less disruptive viewing environment. This sentiment underscores the bill’s focus on delivering “peace and quiet to California households.”
Building on the CALM Act’s Foundation
California’s new law extends the principles of the federal Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which was enacted in 2010. The CALM Act successfully addressed similar loudness issues for traditional broadcast, cable, and satellite television, requiring commercials to maintain an average audio volume consistent with the surrounding programming. However, this federal legislation did not explicitly cover internet-based streaming services, leaving a significant gap in consumer protection. SB 576 bridges this gap, mandating that streaming platforms must now adhere to similar loudness standards.
Implications for Streaming Services and Viewers
With this new legislation, major streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, among others, are now required to comply with loudness regulations. While the exact mechanisms for enforcement are still being clarified, the law mandates that these platforms align their commercial audio levels with the standards set forth by the CALM Act. The move is anticipated to significantly enhance the viewer experience, reducing the jarring volume shifts that have been a long-standing complaint. Given California’s central role in the global entertainment and tech industries, this state-level law could potentially set a national trend, prompting other regions to adopt similar regulations and leading to a quieter, more consistent streaming landscape nationwide.
Industry Pushback and Future Rollout
The entertainment industry, represented by groups like the Motion Picture Association of America, had reportedly expressed concerns, citing potential technical challenges in real-time ad volume control for digital platforms. However, proponents like Senator Umberg expressed confidence, arguing that the technology exists to manage and equalize audio levels effectively. The new law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, giving streaming services time to implement the necessary technical adjustments. This development marks a significant step in evolving the user experience within the rapidly trending streaming and digital media space, finally addressing a persistent issue for millions of TV and movie watchers.
