California's New Streaming Law Will Change the Way People Watch TV

New Law Targets Loud Commercials on Digital Platforms

California Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted legislation that will fundamentally alter how viewers experience commercial content on digital streaming platforms. The law, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, prohibits major streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video from broadcasting audio commercials at volumes exceeding that of the programming they interrupt. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Governor Responds to Consumer Frustrations

In a statement addressing the new regulation, Newsom emphasized the measure's responsiveness to constituent concerns. "We heard Californians loud and clear, and what's clear is that they don't want commercials at a volume any louder than the level at which they were previously enjoying a program," the governor stated. He further explained that "By signing SB 576, California is dialing down this inconvenience across streaming platforms, which had previously not been subject to commercial volume regulations passed by Congress in 2010." PD-US / Wikimedia

Closing Regulatory Gap from 2010 Federal Legislation

The new California statute addresses a loophole left by federal regulation implemented more than a decade ago. In 2010, Congress passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which restricted traditional television broadcasters from airing commercials at volumes exceeding their regular programming. However, this federal mandate did not extend to emerging streaming platforms, creating an inconsistency in consumer protection as viewing habits shifted toward digital services. Elijah Mears / Unsplash

Personal Story Inspires Legislative Action

The impetus for SB 576 came from a relatable parenting challenge experienced by a legislative staffer. Senator Tom Umberg, the bill's author, revealed the human element behind the legislation. "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 explained in a post on X. The senator drafted the measure after Zach Keller, his legislative director, reported that excessive advertisement volume had repeatedly awakened his infant daughter Samantha. California State Senate / Wikimedia

Expected Impact on California Households

Senator Umberg characterized the legislation as a quality-of-life improvement for residents across the state. "SB 576 brings some much-needed peace and quiet to California households by making sure streaming ads aren't louder than the shows we actually want to watch," he stated. The law specifically mandates that streaming services cannot "transmit the audio of commercial advertisements louder than the video content the advertisements accompany," establishing clear parameters for compliance once the statute takes effect in mid-2026. Thibault Penin / Unsplash