California Mandates Quieter Advertisements For Streaming Services
A new law in California, set to take effect on Wednesday, July 1, bans streaming services from showing advertisements that are louder than their main programs. Although television commercials have faced similar rules for years, streaming platforms have previously escaped regulation. State Senator Thomas Umberg sponsored the law to protect parents from loud ads waking sleeping babies. Despite opposition from industry groups like the Motion Picture Association of America, which argued that hardware diversity makes volume control difficult, the law will likely influence streaming standards nationwide.
A new California law that restricts the volume of streaming advertisements is scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, July 1. This legislation will prohibit digital streaming platforms from broadcasting commercials at volume levels that are louder than the accompanying program. While these restrictions currently apply only to California, it is highly anticipated that similar changes will be implemented nationwide.
Similar regulations have already been imposed on traditional media platforms, including standard broadcast and cable television stations, for several years. Nevertheless, internet streaming services had managed to escape these strict volume controlsuntil the new bill was passed in 2025. The legislation was sponsored by State Senator Thomas Umberg, who wanted to address a common and frustrating household problem.
Umberg explained that he was inspired by exhausted parents who had finally managed to put their babies to sleep. He noted that loud, blaring commercials often woke children up, undoing the parents' hard work and causing significant frustration. Consequently, he believed that the volume of streaming ads should be legally regulated to match the main program.
To date, streaming platforms have not released any specific details regarding how they intend to comply with the new law. However, they will likely need to adjust their systems globally, particularly because Illinois plans to introduce a similar law next year. If other states follow this path, standardizing volume levels across all regions will become necessary for major tech companies.
On the other hand, the legislation was opposed by several prominent industry groups, including the Motion Picture Association of America. The Streaming Innovation Alliance also voiced its disagreement, claiming that streaming services were already attempting to resolve this technical issue. Furthermore, these groups pointed out that they must handle a wide variety of output devices, such as televisions, tablets, and phones. Because of this hardware diversity, controlling audio output remains extremely difficult for companies. But the new law will start this week.
Take a position. Out loud, if you can.
Four ways to start. Pick one and try saying it before you scroll on.
Tip · Record yourself, use in a notebook, or practice with a language partner.
How do the new volume rules affect streaming advertisements under the new California law?
Passive Voice
We use the passive voice when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who or what is performing it.
“Similar regulations have already been imposed on traditional media platforms, including standard broadcast and cable television stations, for several years.”
What to know · B2
Try saying this aloud
Scenario: Exchanging views on intrusive online advertising with a colleague.
- 01“I find these streaming ads incredibly disruptive.”
- 02“They really need to standardize the audio levels.”
- 03“The industry should have resolved this years ago.”
Register tip · formal
🔑Key Phrases
Features passive construction suitable for formal reporting.
The volume of streaming advertisements is scheduled to be reviewed.
Introduces opinions or beliefs held by lawmakers.
He believed that the volume of streaming ads should change.
Discusses corporate compliance intentions formally.
They have not shown how they intend to comply with the new law.
Advanced phrase to describe industry pushback.
The group voiced its disagreement, claiming that streaming services are too expensive.
🎙️ Article Audio — Kokoro TTS
California Mandates Quieter Advertisements For Streaming Services
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
To what extent should governments intervene in the technical operations of private streaming services?
Opinion - 2
How do the volume control issues on mobile devices compare to those on smart TVs?
Compare - 3
What challenges do you predict companies will face when standardizing audio across different devices?
Predict - 4
How has your personal media consumption shifted from traditional broadcasting to streaming?
Personal - 5
How would you evaluate the industry's argument that they were already solving the issue?
Evaluate - 6
Compare the effectiveness of voluntary industry standards versus strict government regulations.
Compare - 7
In what situations do you find digital advertising to be most intrusive?
Personal - 8
How do you assess the social impact of Senator Umberg's defense of sleeping babies?
Evaluate
Adapted from TechCrunch · Read the original. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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