California has officially banned excessively loud commercials on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. The new legislation, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 6, 2025, aims to make watching movies and shows on streaming platforms a more comfortable experience for viewers across the state.
What the New Law Does
Under Senate Bill 576 (SB 576), streaming platforms will be prohibited from playing advertisements that are louder than the shows or movies they interrupt. The law mirrors long-standing federal rules for broadcast and cable television but now extends those standards to include modern digital platforms.
The Commercial Volume Restriction Law will officially go into effect on July 1, 2026, giving streaming companies time to adjust their audio mixing and advertising systems to comply.
Closing the CALM Act Loophole
The new law is designed to close a loophole in the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act of 2010 a federal rule that required traditional TV broadcasters and cable networks to ensure that commercial volumes matched regular programming.
However, when the CALM Act was passed, it did not account for the future explosion of streaming platforms. As a result, companies like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube were not legally obligated to control ad volume, often leaving users frustrated by sudden bursts of loud sound between programs.
California’s SB 576 updates this rule for the streaming era, ensuring consistent audio standards across both traditional and digital media.
A Personal Story Sparked the Change
The bill was introduced by State Senator Tom Umberg, who credited his legislative director’s experience as inspiration. According to reports, the director’s infant daughter was repeatedly startled awake by loud streaming ads a problem familiar to many parents.
This personal incident sparked the idea for new legislation, highlighting how technology and viewing habits have evolved since the original CALM Act was implemented 15 years ago.
Impact on Streaming Platforms
Experts believe that this law will have a nationwide impact, even though it’s technically a California state law. Because California is home to the entertainment industry and a massive portion of the U.S. streaming market, companies will likely implement the same sound-level controls nationwide rather than maintaining separate standards for one state.
Streaming services will need to review their audio engineering, ad delivery systems, and third-party ad integrations to ensure compliance before July 2026. The law’s requirements could also encourage platforms to invest in more advanced audio normalization technologies to automatically balance volume levels across ads and content.
A Win for Viewers
For consumers, the law is being hailed as a victory for comfort and accessibility. Viewers have long complained about loud commercials interrupting quiet scenes in movies or late-night shows. By enforcing consistent sound levels, the new law promises a smoother, more enjoyable streaming experience — and fewer jolting surprises during binge-watching sessions.
California’s ban on loud streaming ads marks a significant step toward modernizing media regulations for the digital age. By closing a decade-old legal gap, the state has set a new benchmark for streaming standards that could soon spread across the country.
When the law takes effect on July 1, 2026, it will not only protect viewers’ ears but also demonstrate California’s ongoing leadership in shaping fair, consumer-friendly technology and entertainment policies.
