The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced.

The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced.

      California has prohibited streaming platforms from airing commercials that are louder than the programs they interrupt.

      If you've ever rushed to grab the remote because an advertisement suddenly blared louder than your show, there's some good news. Starting July 1, California has made it illegal for streaming services to display ads that exceed the volume of the content they're interrupting. Governor Gavin Newsom approved the bill, known as SB 576, in October 2025, and it is set to take effect this week.

      What is the purpose of this legislation, and what changes does it bring?

      Since 2010, broadcast, cable, and satellite television providers have been subject to similar volume regulations under the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, but streaming services were not bound by this standard. Now, SB 576 bridges that gap.

      State Senator Tom Umberg, who authored the bill, mentioned that it was prompted by a fatigued parent whose sleeping infant was repeatedly awakened by loud streaming ads.

      Currently, the law only affects viewers in California, though Illinois has enacted a comparable law scheduled to take effect in 2027, potentially encouraging streaming companies to implement these volume adjustments on a national scale rather than state-by-state.

      Resistance from streaming companies

      However, the streaming industry did not welcome this change. Both the Motion Picture Association and the Streaming Innovation Alliance, which represent companies such as Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime Video, opposed the bill.

      They contended that many platforms are already making efforts to manage the inconsistent volume of ads due to server-side ad insertion, where commercials are integrated into a stream using different encoding techniques than the show itself. Additionally, streaming services must consider the varying volumes across devices like phones, tablets, and televisions, making consistent ad volume more complex than it appears. No streaming service has yet detailed how it will comply with the new law, but if California's regulation leads to genuine changes, future loud ad interruptions might finally become more tolerable.

      Comcast's division serves as a clear indication that the cable bundle is losing its hold

      For Peacock and Xfinity customers, there should be stability as NBCUniversal's separation alters the landscape for future streaming benefits.

      Comcast's split raises alarms for Peacock, Xfinity, and monthly internet bills. On the service front, however, customers should remain relaxed; there shouldn't be changes to subscriptions, billing, or broadband plans while the company navigates through the division. NBC News reports that Comcast plans to transition NBCUniversal and Sky into an independent public company, moving Peacock, Universal, NBC, Telemundo, Bravo, theme parks, and Sky away from the broadband and wireless sector. This separation is anticipated to last about a year.

      Read more

      Three underrated Apple TV shows to catch this weekend (June 26-28)

      Here are three critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series that have somehow avoided the mainstream spotlight.

      Apple TV has produced excellent shows that, despite being well-crafted, have not garnered the same attention as hits like Severance or Ted Lasso. These three selections fit this frustrating trend, receiving critical acclaim and affection from those who discovered them, yet remaining woefully underwatched. Together, they include a mystery comedy, an expansive historical drama, and a clever workplace sitcom, showcasing that Apple's offerings extend well beyond its most prominent successes. If you're seeking out genuinely enjoyable content that you've missed, start with these recommendations.

      Read more

      This animated series holds a 100% RT score and is among three overlooked TV shows on HBO Max to stream this weekend (June 26-28)

      From medical dramas to animated sci-fi, these hidden treasures are worth watching this weekend.

      Searching for something unique to enjoy on HBO Max this weekend? These three lesser-known shows illustrate that some of the best programming on the platform hasn't received the recognition it merits. Ranging from a gritty historical medical drama to a stunning and unique animated sci-fi series to an Italian coming-of-age story, each offers a distinctly different binge-watching experience. If you’re weary of repeatedly scrolling past the same familiar TV series recommendations, these selections are well worth a look.

      Read more

The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced. The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced. The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced. The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced. The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced. The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced. The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced.

Other articles

NASA's Swift telescope salvaged: a bold inaugural mission in orbit. NASA's Swift telescope salvaged: a bold inaugural mission in orbit. The NASA Swift telescope rescue involves a robotic spacecraft that will retrieve the descending observatory and elevate its orbit, marking a unique $30 million mission. Google Cloud will offer specialized AI models designed for scientific purposes. Google Cloud will offer specialized AI models designed for scientific purposes. Google Cloud will provide SandboxAQ’s extensive quantitative models for drug discovery, materials science, and chip manufacturing, together with Gemini for Science. RELX announces an additional £100M buyback as its 2026 repurchase program continues. RELX announces an additional £100M buyback as its 2026 repurchase program continues. RELX is set to initiate a £100m share buyback in July, marking the most recent phase of a £2.25bn plan, as the data company continues to distribute cash to its shareholders. It seems that Samsung is developing a rollable phone. Let's hope it doesn't end up the same way as LG. It seems that Samsung is developing a rollable phone. Let's hope it doesn't end up the same way as LG. The speculated rollable Galaxy from Samsung may reach 10 inches by 2028. However, LG's withdrawal, Oppo's prototype, and the challenging engineering requirements illustrate why this phone design still requires validation prior to its release. Taiwan conducts a raid on the Super Micro office as the investigation into Nvidia chip smuggling expands. Taiwan conducts a raid on the Super Micro office as the investigation into Nvidia chip smuggling expands. Prosecutors in Taiwan conducted raids on Super Micro's office as well as two associated firms, broadening the island's initial operation against AI chip smuggling. RELX announces an additional £100M buyback as its repurchase program for 2026 continues. RELX announces an additional £100M buyback as its repurchase program for 2026 continues. RELX will initiate a £100 million share buyback in July, which is part of a £2.25 billion program, as the data company continues to distribute cash to its shareholders.

The annoyingly loud streaming ads that disrupt your show are finally being reduced.

A new law in California prohibits streaming services from airing advertisements that are louder than the shows they disrupt, effective July 1.