Starting July 1, streaming services in California must ensure commercials are not louder than the programs they accompany. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the measure last year to align online platforms with rules already applied to traditional television.
The new statute, known as SB 576, prohibits video streaming services from transmitting advertisements at a higher volume than the accompanying content. It applies to all platforms operating within the state and mirrors the federal Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act that governs broadcast, cable, and satellite providers.
Illinois enacted a comparable requirement this month, with its rules scheduled to begin July 1, 2027. Industry groups including the Motion Picture Association and the Streaming Innovation Alliance opposed the California bill, noting that many services already address loudness issues arising from server-side ad insertion.
The Federal Communications Commission continues to receive hundreds of complaints each year about excessive commercial volume on conventional television. Streaming companies have not yet disclosed whether they will extend the volume adjustments beyond California customers.
