I just had a Comcast Tech Support guy sent out because the volume on the advertising is driving me crazy. Don't say it. We all know I am already crazy, but why do advertisers not know that we hate the rising volume on all the ads? The Comcast guy says they get complaints about this problem all the time. It isn't them. Or so he says, and I have no reason to think he's lying to me. And the volume rises with each ad, so that the last ad is at scream level. I can't stand it.
The result you advertisers want (which I assume is to grab our attention so we will actually listen to what you're hawking) does exactly the opposite of what you intend. I do not listen to the screaming ads; I mute the screaming ads. Ill say it again. If your ad is louder than the program I'm watching, I mute your ads.
The worst offenders are local advertisers. The national ads start at programing volume, but each successive ad gets a little louder. By the fourth ad the volume is so high I have no choice but to mute them. So if you don't want us to listen to your ads or buy your products Advertisers, keep it up. If you do want us to listen to your ads, try whispering. I might even lean in a little to listen to your soft spoken spokesperson.
Monday, August 3, 2009
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19 comments:
i HATE the volume on ads. sometimes they scare the hell out of me.
The volume on ads annoys the crap out of me, too.
You may think you are crazy. i once got out of bed and drove a mile away to my grocery store to bitch out the guy running the huge industrial sweeper in the lot there. It was 1:30 am and the noise did carry all that way. The guy looked a little uncomfortable and was very sorry but really had a job to do and ... my wife woke up when I came inside. When I explained where I'd been in no shirt and my hair sticking up. She stared at me for about 10 seconds and laughed her ass off. You're hilarious she says, oh my effing god...you drove all the way to...ha ha ha. Yeah well...I have since done several things equally stupid but that one still makes me wince. I notice the schlock is especially loud from local car salesmen in my area.
I admit I should know more about this situation because I have a degree in electronics but here is what I am able to piece together because the same issue was real bad here a few years ago.
One, we had all sort of car dealership commercials that were far louder than the television show that was one before it and after. It was investigated by a local news team from one of the local stations and they more or less said there was no problem. Well no one believed that but what are you going to do? However, the issue "disappeared" after a few months and while I will not say it does not occasionally happen now my ears have not been blasted by a used car commercial for a long time.
Two, one of my National Guard buddies worked for a radio station during this stuff and while we were discussing the issue we were told by him that the television stations either turn up the gain on the audio portion on their broadcast signal or the producers of the commercial somehow boost the gain on the audio signal on their end.
Whether any of this has some basis in truth I don't know. I work in biomed and whatever I knew about that stuff I have long forgotten.
You are right...I hate this volume issue also. I have to admit, I have mastered the art of "tuning out." Ask my kids, they will tell you... I never listen to them.
Unfortunately, I sleep with the TV on (I know, bad habit), and I will be awakened by the loudest VIAGRA song ever. I will save my comment on that product.
Hope you are feeling better!!!!
And that's why I try to avoid television all together - except for the occasional Star Trek
I also hate when that happens. I've noticed that it happens with online radio too.
Thanks for coming by and visiting. Is it as hot down in SLC as it is here?
I'm sorry about your friends. We are dealing with family members in the same situation. Sometimes I think the big C will get us all or the rebooblicans.
Making all kinds of new things. That keeps me busy and out of trouble.
who was it who said, "if you really want someone to listen, then whisper ..."
i think it might have been part of a perfume advertisement in the '60's or '70's.
i think it's true. advertisers should take heed!
If I'm at my computer listening to the news on TV the ads start out normal and by the fifth one or so I'm running across the room trying to find the remote so I can mute it or change the channel.
Sometimes Ms M drops in and the an ad is screaming away and she looks at me like I'm deaf, like this is my normal volume for watching TV.
La vida es esto. Prestémosle atención a los
detalles. Al calorcito humeante del pis, a sacar la basura, a viajar apretados
en colectivo. Si no disfrutamos eso, ¿qué nos queda?
P, nice to have you comment. Sadly I don't speak Spanish. I hope one of my multi-lingual readers will translate for me.
I've noticed that for ages. So annoying. Radio ads can be that way too. There's this one ad for a local car dealership (they are the worst) that the guy is actually shouting the whole time. What on earth makes them think this will make me want to buy their cars?
THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE GLORIOUS BENEFIT THEIR PRODUCT PROVIDES WHY DO YOU HATE THE FREE MARKET YOU COMMIE PINKO BUY BUY BUY NOW.
I do indeed agree. When my local PBS station switched to Digital HD the sound went way up with amazing fidelity. The clarity is amazing. I can turn the volume down to 5 and still understand everything, even the Bloody Brits. I wish the rest of the wasteland would get on board.
Randal you bastard you woke me up from a perfectly good coma.
Amos, if can't happen soon enough. I actually think watching the news is making me deaf. Nice to see you here.
They make a "smart tv" it has a master setting that caps the volume at whatever YOU set it at.
So when a movie gets really loud or those damned commercials blare their ads, the tv keeps it toned down.
Great idea-- maybe they can install one w dynamite too?
I just keep the mute nearby every ad gets muted.
i used to be bothered by that volume change on tv ads. however, since June12th and the conclusion of the corporate theft of the public airwaves i have been tv free. cold unpixelated turkey ... it's not as if the news on tv is a great loss either. all you have to do to know what the latest horse pucky being floated by the PTB's tamed talking heads is pay attention to the chatter you hear among others as they recount last nites latest. so far all the tv shows or movies i've wanted to see are available online with no commercials, hence no assaulted ears.
Cold Turkey huh? That's harsh. Ideologically I agree with you ABOL, but I'm hooked. I know I get better news on NPR, BBC and Air America,and they are where I used to get all my news, but...
Well said, Utah. Very well said.
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