California Law: Streaming Volume Now Uniform

California is implementing a new law on July 1 that mandates consistent audio volume levels for streaming platforms. This amendment, known as SB 576, extends regulations previously applied to traditional television networks to the digital streaming space. The core of the legislation ensures that advertisements do not play at a noticeably higher volume than the entertainment content itself.

While the law prohibits excessive ad volume, brief spikes are still permissible as long as they do not exceed the overall volume of the program. Enforcement of SB 576 will not allow for direct consumer lawsuits; instead, state authorities will act upon complaints, requiring companies to rectify any discrepancies in audio levels. Streaming services will likely adopt technical standards similar to those used by TV providers to normalize audio across their vast libraries of advertisements and campaigns.