The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) applies various Ofcom
Codes when dealing with complaints from television viewers or radio
listeners. In this case the relevant Code was the Television
Advertising Standards Code, which contains the rule:
"Advertisements must not be excessively noisy or strident. Studio
transmission power must not be increased from normal levels during
advertising breaks."
The accompanying note to the Rule advises that:
"A fairly constant average level of sound
energy should be maintained in transitions from programmes to
advertising breaks and vice versa so that listeners do not need to
adjust the volume."
Whenever a complaint regarding sound levels is received, Ofcom's
technical department conducts tests on the programmes or adverts at
issue. In this case Ofcom's report to ASA advised that almost all
of the adverts shown during the film had sounded subjectively
louder than the main content of the film. This, it said, was due to
the use of audio compression. Audio compression takes place when
minimum sound levels are raised artificially during the production
stage in order to make them stand out.
Ofcom also advised that immediately preceding several ad breaks
the film had had scenes of quiet dialogue – which only served to
emphasise the difference in sound level. The Code requires that
highly compressed advertisements have their peak volume reduced
before broadcast – and Channel 5 had failed to do this.
The ASA agreed with Ofcom's findings and warned Channel 5 to
ensure that its future output levels comply with the Code.
The ASA has already upheld the same rule in June when a David
Hasselhoff fan complained that the adverts during an episode of
Knight Rider – shown on Bravo – had also been louder than the
programme itself. The fact that the programme was old and that the
transition from analogue to digital and the inherent sound quality
differences made it difficult to ensure that sound levels were
maintained were acknowledged, but dismissed, by the ASA.
