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Articles for Costa Nikols

What the Global Streaming Business Is Learning From Evolving Loudness Regulation

California's SB576 loudness law is less a one-off regulation and more a signal of where the industry is heading. As streaming becomes the dominant viewing platform, expectations around audio quality, including clarity, balance, and intelligibility, are rising with it.

California’s Streaming Loudness Law: Time for Ad Tech to Rethink Audio Control

A familiar broadcast rule is now entering the streaming world with California's new loudness regulation SB 576, mandating that advertisements must match the perceived volume of the primary content surrounding them. The goal is to eliminate the sudden volume spikes viewers experience during ad breaks. On paper, it's a win-win: audiences get a better viewing experience, and advertisers know their message is landing without jarring. But implementing that rule in streaming is far less simple than it sounds.