PERSONALLY, I THINK AOL IS GETTING A KICK BACK ON THESE POSTS. FOR WHAT OTHER REASON WOULD THEY ALLOW FREE ADVERTISING??? AND, IF I WAS A PAYING ADVERTISER, I'D BE PISSED AND PULL MY AD UNTIL CHANGES WERE MADE.

Not to mention the noise on the television show. If a couple is standing on the street you can't hear them for the street noise, or if they're by the ocean, it's all wave roar.

I guess this is suppose to be reality -- it is noisy on the street -- but you want to hear the dialogue.

And this includes the extremely loud music that often covers up dialogue in a clumsy attempt to evoke emotion and built emotion in the viewer.

My wife and I were watching an old Fifties movie and when it was over she turned to me. "Did you notice that not once did either of us ask, What did they say?"

What is most surprising about this "phenomenon" is that it is completely counterproductive to actually advertising any product, since if forces the vast majority of people to mute the commercial, change channels, or simply "tune out" what is being pitched their way. Why, if most people refuse to listen to these offensively loud commercials, is it seen as a "good advertising technique" by anyone? I realize, they think they get into your subconscious mind, even by offending you, and that somehow translates into sales, but that won't work if you mute the commercial and ignore the tv for the few minutes that the commercial break is on. It makes no sense at all.

What I find annoying is the "ghost" or "phenomenon" shows. They spend all their time hunting for ghosts and documenting sound to try to prove their cause, (and get viewers). Then when something happens like a strange noise they completely mask it with music. I agree with the loud music statement that you made since I can't stand rap, and it seems that a lot of commercials today are using that to sway the youth into watching them. I wish someone would make a device that would automatically shut off the sound when commericals come on.

I do agree with you on the music choices as well. How about furniture commercials with the annoying music? Did you ever notice some of them are playing a single note on an organ? This tone makes you pay attention to the screen, almost in anticipation. And did you ever notice if there are a few people watching TV with you, a conversation STOPS when a commercial comes on and resumes when the regular programs resumes?

BLESS YOU we are stressed enough and if we weren't that noise enflames us anywho LOL but not too loud ........ just now wanted to call CVS and tell them 'I AIN"T GOING THERE ANYMORE' but you know the truth sure i'll need them and what was his name with the LOUD voice G-d rest his soul DORIT s.florida

I have started searching out older TV shows. They don't have all of the background noise or excessive music.

Equally annoying is the use of noise on commercials. Grinding noises, random thumps and steady monotonous droning notes or drum beats are used in almost all commercials. The producers seem to believe these noises will hold the viewer's attention--kind of like poking him in the chest with your finger. That's when I hit the mute button--and so I avoid the message entirely. These advertisers have forgotten who has the disposable income to buy products they see on TV--and it isn't the rock-n-roll teenagers!

ma

My job is to ingest commercials for television stations. One problem is the volume of some programs changes from program to program. It is relative. Sports is louder than dramas, etc.

I've never deliberately made a commercial too loud, but sometimes advertisers will complain if its not jumping out at the viewer.

What those Madison Avenue twits seem to overlook is the face that nearly all, if not all, TVs now have a remote, and remotes have MUTE buttons. What good is a loud commercial that has been muted? They should have long ago been concentrating on making "invitingly pleasant" commercials instead of obnoxiously "in your face" commercials that people "terminate, with extreme predjudice."

Good comment. Makes sense. You're savvy. Thanks.

I've noticed this problem for a long time. I'm glad our elected representatives are finally going to do something about it. I fast forward through the commercials, and mute them, because sometimes I miss the break point and get a little bit of the commercial, and it's ear deafening.

Me too, I won't buy anything that has a loud commercial. It annoys me when we can't hear diolouge in a regular program, so I have to turn it up, then if I am not in the room, a commercial comes on and if I had little ones they would scare the , you know what out of them. Enough already.

Barbara, my sentiments exactly. I refuse to buy any of the products they advertise with the extra loud commercials. I am soooooo sick of them. Some are louder than ohthers and rock the walls in my small apt. I sure hope something can be done about them.

It would finally put an end to that obnoxious Billy Mays screaming at us - even from the grave

So is it gonna hurt your ears if they get rid of the horrible noise? It's not gonna put food on your table, but I bet it isn't gonna give you a headache either, now is it?