Comments | antof9: Why ARE commercials so loud?

antof9

Why ARE commercials so loud?

Feb 21, 2010 22:04

Someone on Twitter today wrote about how loud commercials are. My first thought was about Unk saying recently that reportedly, overloud commercials will be legislated soon in the U.S. (oh, and YAY!) My second thought was about my grandaddy ( Read more... )

family

Comments 8

miketroll February 22 2010, 10:34:18 UTC

Go, grandaddy! As JuniorTroll revealed on Facebookorwasittwitter, he has inherited the SeniorTroll trait of muting the ads during the commercial breaks. The remote is our best friend!

This is an ongoing discussion topic in the UK too (see link below, which mentions the US legislation). In this article, it's interesting that the TV company response is often flat denial. Nonsense, of course, but I guess their lawyers have warned that any admission risks walking into a class action suit.

I think they make the ads so loud mainly to compete with the living room chatter that naturally rises when the ad breaks start, also to keep within earshot the people who step out to make a cup of coffee or visit the can. Or maybe they just think if it's louder there's more chance their stupid product will stick in your mind.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8519231.stm

antof9 February 23 2010, 17:51:59 UTC

The funniest part of that article to me (aside from the "made in the 80s -- full of long pauses part) was Since television began, viewers have often complained about advertisements being louder than the programmes.

pootski February 22 2010, 13:31:02 UTC

That's really cool!

There's one channel in particular that's really bad about this, especially when they show movies. I think it's TBS.

antof9 February 23 2010, 17:49:48 UTC

oh! I think you're right! It's the worst if you run into the kitchen and aren't near the remote and it goes to commercial. GRR!

I was watching a movie on that channel (the loud one -- whether it was TBS or not) recently, and happened to notice the volume numbers on the stereo while I was watching it. For normal viewing, that channel was on about 42, I think. For the commercials to not be intrusive? I had to turn them down to NINETEEN!

reggiesgirl2 February 22 2010, 14:53:24 UTC

Your grandaddy WAS brilliant! :)

And I'd forgotten that those old TVs had to warm up. heh

antof9 February 23 2010, 17:47:47 UTC

Isn't it funny the things we forget? (and lived with like they were normal...)

sirroy February 22 2010, 20:34:31 UTC

On one of our more modern TVs we have touch button controls. That meant Dad count reach over with the long poker and chage the channels. All 6 of them!

It was also the TV they could lock until after 6pm.

antof9 February 23 2010, 17:47:23 UTC

oh funny! Now that mention it, I feel like we had (or maybe my grandparents did) that kind later, too! Too funny. 6 whole channels. What an extravagance!