OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Broadcasters and television service providers will have to turn down the volume on loud television commercials starting this September.
The Commission published its final regulations on Tuesday after calling for comments on draft regulations in December. The move follows a public hearing held in February 2011 in which Canadians flooded the CRTC with complaints about the excessive loudness of television commercials.
The regulations require Canadian broadcasters to adhere to the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s (ATSC) standard for measuring and controlling television signals to minimize fluctuations in loudness between programming and commercials. The Commission similarly amended the exemption order for BDUs serving fewer than 2,000 subscribers noting the costs associated with compliance.
Broadcasters are also responsible for maintaining the volume of programs, and must ensure that both programs and ads are transmitted at the same volume by September 1, 2012.
“The rules we published bring us a step closer to our goal of eliminating loud TV ads,” said acting CRTC chair Leonard Katz, in a statement. “We have every expectation that the industry will take the necessary steps to meet our deadline and provide relief to viewers.”
