Are YouTube ads allowed to be louder than the video they appear on?

Question

From what I understand, at least on TV, commercials are legally not allowed to be louder than the show they appear on.I really hate the inconsistency of volume/loudness on Youtube. I'll be watching a video then boom, 2 or 3 times louder, a commercial pops up. I constantly have to lower the volume during commercials and then have to increase again for the video.Does the law for TV not apply to Youtube? Is YouTube not an MVPD?For reference, the CALM Act is the law governing this: https://www.fcc.gov/media/policy/loud-commercials

potamic · Accepted Answer

This is a huge problem in advertising. I don't know if there are any regulations in my country but this practice is rampant. It's unbelievably annoying and when you're watching something like a cricket match that plays all day with an ad break every 5 minutes, it can make you go insane. It's practices like these why I carry no qualms in using ad blockers or consuming pirated content. (Hey, I've already paid for a subscription, shouldn't matter where I watch it, right?). I for one, am absolutely outraged at content producers pushing down dark patterns and attempting to exploit me to the maximum every minute of our interaction.

yesenadam · Answer

Mainly I'm wondering why you aren't using an ad blocker? I guess there's some good reason.. But I wouldn't watch youtube for one second if I had to see ads popping up during what I was watching. Your mind deserves better.

thedevindevops · Answer

As an ASMR fan I can tell you categorically that ads are never volume matched to their videos.

FridayoLeary · Answer

Why would you think the content of YouTube is governed by any laws?

vagrantJin · Answer

I suppose advertisers and youchube think we'll buy more stuff if they scream "Your customers want...with twilio...sign up today" at 100 decibels.No Twilio.

zinekeller · Answer

TLDR: Ads do follow the limits - precisely.
Long answer: most YouTubers are not properly mixing their audio so that it'll hit -14 LKFS (which is the de facto target loudness for online content. Most movies and television shows are de jure targeted to -24 LKFS/-23 LUFS. LKFS and LUFS are perceptual volume measurement scales, LKFS being predominant in America/SMTPE while LUFS are predominant in Europe/EBU.), either due to being intentional (ASMR content) or not knowing how to do it.
On the other hand, most advertisers have the backing of professional mixers, and they will hit -14 LKFS constantly, period.
Note that Youtube has a loudness normaliser - but only for videos that is significantly louder than -14 LKFS (you wouldn't want ASMR content to be NASMR). This is only done so that poor speakers won't be blown up and not get the ire of EU et al. due to popped ears.

aww_dang · Answer

The 'm' key will mute videos and commercials.

arufrrole · Answer

wow, now i'm intrigued.