Loud Ads on Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, And More Are Finally Getting Cancelled

If you’ve ever been jolted by a ridiculously loud ad while watching Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube, help is on the way. I think most of us have faced the annoyance. But thankfully, if you’re a Californian, you have one more reason to love that place. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 576, a new law that makes it illegal for streaming ads to be louder than the show or movie you’re watching.

Loud and annoying ads won’t ruin your serious movie night… well, in 2026

Starting July 1, 2026, all streaming services serving Californians will have to keep ad volumes in check. The law covers big platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, YouTube, and more. It’s basically an extension of the CALM Act from 2010, which already kept TV commercials from blasting your ears, as the press release points out. But until now, streaming platforms weren’t included.

There’s an important detail here. The idea for the bill came from a surprisingly relatable source: a newborn named Samantha. Senator Thomas Umberg’s staffer complained that loud streaming ads were waking up the baby. Umberg joked that the bill is for “every exhausted parent who’s finally gotten a baby to sleep, only to have a blaring streaming ad undo all that hard work.”

This change is small but meaningful. Think about watching a quiet drama or documentary, only for an ad to suddenly blare through your speakers. The new rule should make that a thing of the past. Streaming companies may even apply the fix nationwide, since it is easier than adjusting sound only for California.

We can only hope that other countries pick up on this too, because honestly, everyone has had enough of these loud ads. For now, viewers will have to wait until 2026 for a calmer streaming experience. Until then, keeping the remote handy for sudden volume spikes is probably a cool idea.