California bans loud commercials on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services

California has enacted a significant new law aimed at reducing the volume of advertisements on popular streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video. The legislation mandates that the volume of commercials must align with the audio levels of the accompanying content. Governor Gavin Newsom officially endorsed this law on Monday, which will come into effect on July 1, 2026. According to the legislation, streaming platforms will no longer be permitted to air commercials that are louder than the programming they interrupt. "We heard Californians loud and clear, and they want commercials at a volume that matches their viewing experience," Governor Newsom stated in a press release. He emphasized that the new law, known as SB 576, aims to alleviate the annoyance caused by loud advertisements, a concern that had previously gone unregulated for streaming services unlike traditional television. The law draws inspiration from the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which prohibited TV commercials from being broadcast at a louder volume than the programs themselves since its enactment in 2010. With this new law, streaming services are now expected to adhere to the same volume regulations as traditional TV broadcasters within California. Senator Tom Umberg, who sponsored the bill, highlighted a personal anecdote that fueled the legislation. He recounted how his legislative director, Zach Keller, complained that the loudness of streaming ads was disturbing his newborn daughter, Samantha, during her sleep. "This bill was inspired by baby Samantha and every exhausted parent who’s finally gotten a baby to sleep, only to have a blaring streaming ad undo all that hard work," Umberg remarked in the press release. He concluded by stating that SB 576 will provide much-needed tranquility to households across California. Given California's prominent role in the entertainment industry, this law could set a precedent, encouraging streaming services nationwide to reconsider their advertising volume practices.