California now prohibits streaming services—such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime—from making commercials louder than the programs you’re watching. It’s now illegal for them to do so.
On October 6th, Governor Gavin Newsom made a new law official. This law controls how loud commercials can be and could serve as a model for the rest of the country.
This new law addresses a growing number of complaints about loud commercials on streaming services. The Federal Communications Commission noticed a significant increase in reports of commercials being much louder than the shows and movies people are watching. It’s similar to a rule already in place for traditional cable and broadcast TV, but this is the first time it applies to digital streaming platforms.
Because California is a major hub for entertainment, this new rule could become a standard for the entire country. Streaming services have until July 2026 to make the necessary changes.
California has banned streaming services increasing volume levels during commercials
— TopMob (@TopMob) October 8, 2025
A baby inspired the bill
State Senator Tom Umberg, the creator of SB 576, explained the bill came about because his legislative director, Zach Keller, was disturbed by loud commercials waking his baby daughter, Samantha.
According to Umberg, this legislation was motivated by experiences like those of parents who struggle to get their babies to sleep, only to have that effort ruined by loud ads on streaming services. She specifically mentioned a baby named Samantha as an inspiration.
The new law initially met opposition from leading entertainment companies like Disney, Paramount, Amazon, and Netflix, represented by groups such as the Motion Picture Association and the Streaming Innovators Alliance. These companies explained that audio in advertisements comes from many different places, making it hard to control and regulate effectively.
Honestly, the whole thing seemed stuck for a while, but then they added a clause protecting streamers from getting sued directly by people. That made a huge difference! It meant the state’s attorney general would handle any issues instead. After that, it actually passed with support from both sides, which is awesome. Hopefully, that means fewer unexpected noises ruining streams and a lot more peaceful gaming for everyone in California!
California isn’t alone in passing laws that impact people nationwide. This new law requires companies to simplify the subscription cancellation process, and similar laws have faced legal challenges in the past.
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2025-10-08 19:18