TV Advert Volume... ARGH!

[Vini]

This is becomming ever more annoying...

I get my TV to a volume thats nice... then the adverts come on and deafen me. What in the gods name. Why?

It could be that the TV's cheap and on its way out, but im thinking its more those scamming advertisers.

If i change channel to a non-showing-advert channel and flick back, the tv is at the low level, but on the next advert, wham! deafened again.

Is it just me?

[Zathras]

There are rules about it, but they do certainly try it on! The sound levels are normalised very high so while the peak noise will match that of a TV program, everything else is ramped up so softer sounds sound much louder.

http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/codes/tv_c...nd+Offence.htm - section 6.9

[Funkstar]

i've noticed this as well, but usually on satelite channels like Paramount Comedy and the Discovery Network.

It's the same with radio stations, but not just adverts. Radio 1 have thier DJ mics far too high. One of the many many reasons i stopped listening

[atrull]

I just mute the adverts

[Vini]

I just mute the adverts

pita tho.

[Lee H]

pita tho.

YOU have to be KIDDING - 1 simple press of a button and volia the volumes off until you press it again.

[kalniel]

Usually it's because an advert doesn't have a particularly dynamic sound range, whereas a premium program does.

That means you have to start the premium program at a lower overall volume, to make room for the added range, so the difference between a quiet scene and a loud one is greater.

Same thing happens with music stations on the radio - classical channels are usually a lot quieter than pop ones.

[Million]

Would be good if TVs got to a stage where they would be able to tell you the time and duration of ad breaks so you can avoid em, or just auto-mute at those times

[Digitizer]

Well I glad it's not just me that it bloody annoys. You shouldn't have to sit there & mute every 2 minutes.Well with Sky if it's anything worth watching the adverts add up to far more airtime than the programe. It seems to me years ago wehn it was just the BBC & ITV you paid a licence fee for BBC so you didnt get adverts. Now we pay a licence fee Sky's rip off charges & get more adverts than Ever

[machinist]

Volume is increased 2.5dB when the advert break comes on to signal to the broadcaster that adverts can be sent.
Annoying but necessary.

[snedger]

I don't notice it so much anymore as I'm totally compelled to channel surf at every advert break. Usually means I get distracted and miss the 2nd half of a show!
Worst thing on my dining room telly is that the stupid thing keeps detecting Nicam/mono at advert transitions and temporarily mutes as it changes sound mode.

[Steve A]

I but the TV on off timer before i go to sleep , and yes i do notice it, the Bast**ds

[dave87]

heh, the sony telly I have has an autovolume adjust which is designed to normalise volumes between channels, but also works on adverts

[chicken]

I always figured they ramped up the more noticeable frequencies and cut the lesser ones to achieve the same dB but a "louder" sound to the ear.

It is annoying though, but if we had too much warning of adverts then everyone would skip them and you'd have to pay more for your channels or put up with worse content.

[Pirate Pete]

i find it better to just go and take a wee/polish the one eyed gofer/check emails during adverts

probably because i have lost the TV remote 90% of the time

[SilentDeath]

Volume is increased 2.5dB when the advert break comes on to signal to the broadcaster that adverts can be sent.
Annoying but necessary.

which could also be used to signal adverts to your tele, but tv's are 50 years old none in the industry is capable of such innovation.

I prerecord by 10 mins for most things, so i can skip ads instead of muting them