Have you ever noticed that when a TV show goes to commercial you nearly get blasted out of the room by the change in volume? Well the CRTC is going to do something worthwhile for a change and make TV companies maintain an even level of volume.
I’ve heard some people express doubt that this is even a thing but it is a thing! You have to be Quick Draw McGraw to be able to grab the remote fast enough to prevent a blast of music or a shout from a product hawker each and every time. Privately, TV types will admit that this is done on purpose. Sometimes it’s the way the audio is mixed but other times it’s that the commercials are simply way louder than the program. It’s so bad that thousands of Canadians have complained to the CRTC forcing it to take action. Other countries, including the US, are working on similar rules.
So as of September 1, 2012 all TV broadcasters and distributors will be responsible for ensuring there is minimal fluctuation between the audio levels of the TV shows and the commercials. Most of us are PVRing shows and skipping the darn spots anyway. But this is finally one of the most practical and useful things the Commission has ever done, says the woman who works at a radio station that has to play 40% Canadian content in its music!
Interesting. Why does it take `thousands of Canadians’ to complain to have a worthwhile change like this implemented while it takes only one or two complaints to have radio or TV shows change jokes or content or language that the rest of us have no problem with?
Great question. I wish I knew!
I am thankful that they are going to set an acceptable level for audio. I am one of the ones who complained. My main problem was the OLG commercials – they were at least 10X the volume of the programme. I called T.V. stations, OLG, and the CRTC and each time I was told it was someone else’s responsibility to control the volume. My ears say “THANK YOU!” (yes, my volume was turned up for that comment 🙂 )
Commercials have been historically recorded at 4Db louder than the actual programming as a method for catching the attention of the viewer, it is/was deliberate. At least that was what I was taught when studying in the recording industry and the techniques we used at the time, but that was back then and who knows now but I suspect its still true.
As a partial answer to Kevin’s inquiry. These type of issues fall solely within the CRTC’s jurisdiction whereas the others fall under Human Rights legislation which has legal precedence over CRTC rules.
Not so I’m afraid Allan. When it comes to broadcasting, it’s not a Human Rights Commission issue. It’s the CRTC or the CBSC – Canadian Broadcast Standards Council. However, unlike the CRTC, the CBSC isn’t a government organisation. It grew out of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Members create its standards. It has come up with some baffling decisions including the one about Dire Straits’ Money for Nothing which was based on one complaint.
Lisa, we’ll have to agree to disagree on this.
I’ve been a huge fan of the MUTE button on my remote for years. I’ve been amazed to be in households where people just shout over the ads rather than just kill the volume! Thank GOD there’s nothing like that for the radio 😉
I love the mute button too. We use it regularly! But I still sometimes don’t get to it quickly enough.