Silence the Screaming: Understanding the Annoyingly Loud Commercials of Hulu
As a fifth-grader, the last thing you’d want while watching your favorite TV shows on Hulu is to be interrupted by an overly loud commercial that almost knocks you out of your chair. But, unfortunately, it’s a common occurrence that is a result of the difference in loudness between the shows and the commercials.
But, don’t worry. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the mechanisms behind these overly loud commercials of Hulu, and what you can do to silence the screaming.
First Things First: Understanding Why the Commercials are So Loud
As you may have already noticed, the commercials on Hulu tend to be much louder than the shows they interrupt. This occurrence is called commercial or volume leveling, and it is meant to balance the sound levels between programs and ads.
However, while networks are required to adhere to strict guidelines on sound levels, streaming services like Hulu are not, and as such, advertisers have been taking advantage of the lack of regulation by increasing the volume of their commercials.
How Does the Loudness Work?
To understand how the loudness of commercials on Hulu works, you should first understand the measurement of sound levels, which is done in decibels (dB).
Every show on TV has a Loudness Unit Full Scale (LUFS) level. This level is the average loudness of the show compressed to a specific degree. However, commercials are not subject to LUFS-level regulations, and as such, it’s normal for advertisers to produce them at much higher levels than the shows.
This discrepancy in loudness levels is what causes the overly high-volume commercials that we experience on streaming services like Hulu.
The Impact of High-Volume Commercials
The impact of these high-volume commercials is significant, and it’s not just on you or your family members. They can affect the quality of life of your entire neighborhood.
Imagine being woken up in the middle of the night by a loud, screaming commercial. That’s hardly the type of environment that anyone would want to live in.
What Can You Do to Silence the Screaming?
Now that you know the cause of those annoyingly loud commercials, here are some things you can do to reduce their volume:
1. Adjust your device’s volume: You can reduce the volume of your TV, laptop, or phone when commercials come on.
2. Use a soundbar: A soundbar can help keep the volume levels consistent and prevent the commercials’ sound from overpowering the show you’re watching.
3. Use headphones: Using headphones can reduce the volume of commercials significantly, giving you a better viewing experience.
FAQs
1. Why are the commercials on Hulu so loud?
Because Hulu isn’t subject to the strict guidelines on sound levels that networks have to follow. Advertisers have been taking advantage of the lack of regulation by increasing the volume of their commercials.
2. How do loudness levels work?
Loudness levels are measured in decibels (dB). Each show on TV has a Loudness Unit Full Scale (LUFS) level, while commercials are not subject to LUFS-level regulations, leading to a difference in loudness levels.
3. What impact do high-volume commercials have?
High-volume commercials can significantly affect the quality of life of your neighborhood, causing annoyance, disturbance, and ruining the peaceful environment.
4. What can I do to reduce commercial volume?
You can adjust your device’s volume, use a soundbar, or use headphones.
5. Can I report excessively loud commercials on Hulu?
Hulu has a customer support line that customers can use to report excessively loud commercials.
6. Are high-volume commercials harmful to our ears?
Not necessarily. However, high volumes can cause discomfort and make it difficult to enjoy your show.
7. Can you mute commercials on Hulu?
Yes. You can either mute commercials by using the mute button or download an AdBlocker extension.
Conclusion
We hope this post has helped you understand the reason behind the overly loud commercials on Hulu and what you can do to silence the screaming. It’s crucial for us to take action by reducing the volume levels to maintain a peaceful environment in our neighborhoods. We encourage everyone to be mindful of their volume levels and report any excessively loud commercials to Hulu’s customer support.