Are TV advertisements too loud?

[Tornalca]

I only watch recorded series and movies from my PVR. It's the only way...

 

[Rouxenator]

TV Remote ? No, I prefer the HDD recorder remote - just fast forward over the ads. I am paying to see the programs, not the ads.

 

[nictron]

When my wife and I watch TV at night we dread the advertisements!

Why? Because they are so load that they wake the kids that are sleeping!

If you look at the baby, as soon as an advertisement starts their little bodies jerk because of the change in sound level.

We also sit with the remote and immediately turn down the volume.

GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER DSTV & MULTICHOICE!

 

[Rouxenator]

Do you realize how much time you waste watching things live? Get a HDD recorder and start watch about 20~30 minutes after the program starts, you'll save a lot of time that way.

 

[Nephew_]

So instead of getting our attention, they P us off. :twisted:

“This is a recognised problem and MNet is in the process of adjusting the ad loudness to the level of the main programming content.”

What BS. They are playing for time or just pretending they will do something. This is not difficult guys, it is quick and easy. You cannot be in a process of doing this, it is an instant change.

 

[Moederloos]

And don't you guys just love the ESPN presenters with those massive headsets?

now my mind is in the gutter...

 

[Budza]

Have you ever noticed the MUTE button?

Exactly. Seems counter productive. I used to hit mute, wait for show to resume then unmute. Never heard the ads. Sure I'm not the only one...

No more DSTV for me. Ads+waiting/schedules= I now affirmatively acquire content from the web.

 

[medicnick83]

I don't watch TV (well... with ads anyway) but they used to always be 'louder'

 

[Atti2de]

I've got an idea for DStv/ Multichoice. Why not give us an option on the setup menu or wherever that allows us to offset the ad volume + or -?

This way, when ads start, you won't be scrambling for the remote to wake the kids/ dogs/ wife.

In the beginning on channel 170 (Mnet HD), they had this vodka ad which drove me up the walls. Always the same thing, and bloody loud.

Surely we as the consumers have a choice in this regard? Giving us this menu option would be a positive for you guys.

If that works out nicely, you could even set the PVR record thingy to NOT record ads.

 

[PPJ]

Doubt if this will ever change

My grandfather used to work at the sabc in the days when they still used those glass tubes in the transmission equipment. Even then they had to adjust the advertisements to be louder than the actual shows.

+1

And it is still like that today in their own (SABC) admission. As (RSG) listners complain about that all the time. And I mean the same sound problem the equipment is slightly newer

 

[mibloem]

dolby solveds the problem

http://www.news.com.au/technology/d...d-tv-commercials/story-e6frfro0-1225817222711

TV ads hushed

Dolby Volume was developed to address a complaint seeming as old as television itself; that shows on screens seem to whisper while commercials shout despite being on the same volume settings.

Volume inconsistencies can also occur when compact disks are switched in players or between music files in MP3 devices.

"One of the biggest complaints consumers have had is volume inconsistencies," Mr Eggers said.

"We solved that problem. Dolby Volume gives us the capability to choose our favourite volume level for all media then set aside the remote and never touch it again."

The technology is being built into Toshiba televisions and car audio products this year, according to Dolby.

 

[LordFoom]

Which is why I have gotten rid of DSTV and download my own shows. I only use the TV now for watching my shows on it.

Exactly - they're cutting their own throats with this kind of behaviour, causing more and more people to opt out of the passive entertainment paradigm where we allow them to dictate what we watch.

 

[zamicro]

MultiChoice confirmed the higher volume levels in a written statement regarding the issue, but said that it is the industry standard. “The industry standard is that advertisement volume levels are higher than those of programming. The difference should not be big enough to turn down the volume,” a MultiChoice spokesperson said.

Well, well then you must reconsidder because I find myself many times to mute during ads.

 

[Shaun - Cape Town]

DSTV

Watching DSTV is becoming very "irritating experience", I hope ODM will have more control over their content.

 

[telkomreallysux]

You can tell by by the number of ads how popular a show is, at this point, not many. Imagine if we got decent programs?

They can't program their decoders right after all this time, how can you expect them to manage the ad volume, and why would they care?

 

[DSTVUser]

I'm spared the ad-frustrations by mostly just watching CBeeBies... not sure how many other members want to try that option...

 

[antowan]

Interesting reading material... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17229281/ns/business-consumer_news/

 

[zak]

im guilty...

i mix commercials and promos.....
and i agree(partly) that they are ..
the problem lies in the fact that whilst they are at the same level, the perceived loudness is far higher..

 

[donaldza]

God I wish they would fix this. I watch Golf late at night (which is a traditionally quiet thing) and when the ads come on it deafens me. Gotta hold the remote permanently.

 

[g-d-zilla]

TV ads ARE too loud!

TV advertisements too loud?

Consumers complain about loud TV ads; MultiChoice says that it is the industry standard that advertisement volume levels are higher than programs

MultiChoice and SABC and eTV will defend themselves, that's obvious; so change the industry standard! I have been complaining to all 3 for years about the volume of advertisements compared to the volume (loudness, not quantity) of the actual broadcast programme. I am so pleased this has finally come to a head and is advertised.

Now they must actually DO something about rectifying this error!