With rising prices for cable, many people are searching to alternative ways of watching their favorite shows. One such way is through online streaming services such as Hulu and Netflix. However, ads during commercial breaks can be the opposite of relaxing when they hit ear-splitting volume.
A quick search on Reddit will turn up a number of posts from frustrated viewers. Hulu, why do you have commercials so loud?
Why are the ads on hulu so loud?
In their responses to these complaints, Hulu typically responds with a canned response that they are working on the issue. While comforting, users continue to report ads with varying volume levels.
Why is there such a variance in commercial volume? Is it part of some kind of algorithm designed to keep viewers glued to the screen no matter what? Or is it the product of a slipshod assembly line approach to producing ad content?
Hulu commercials are too loud and make it difficult to enjoy the show.
The latter would be understandable if it were only happening once in a while. However, users report issues with commercial volume on a daily basis. If Hulu really wants to keep viewers from cable and other streaming services, they need to ensure their product is as good as possible. Improving the quality of ads may be another way to accomplish this goal.
My hulu is so loud I can’t hear what’s going on in the show. The volume of the commercials are too high and it makes watching hulu not enjoyable.
The volume of commercials has increased in recent months
I understand that the people who make these ads want their products to stand out, but there has to be a better way than blasting our eardrums with sound. Volume levels within a commercial break should be standardized in order to ensure a comfortable viewing experience.
Another issue with the ads is that they are either too loud or completely inaudible. With no happy medium between these two extremes, Hulu needs to give its users some control over their viewing experience by allowing them to adjust volume levels on their own.
Hulu should lower the volume of commercials or give viewers the option to mute them.
Gone are the days of tolerating a commercial break or two to get a back massage. For me, I’ll stick with Netflix for my streaming needs until Hulu gets its act together.
In addition to louder ads, some have reported that there is no volume variance between ads and programs on Hulu. In other words, the entire program is either too loud or not loud enough, with nothing in between.
Commercials are necessary for businesses, but they should not be so intrusive that they ruin people’s experience with content.
Hulu has been notified of these issues, but there is no word from the company about any progress being made. This makes it difficult for me to recommend their service when other companies are actively listening to customer feedback and making changes accordingly.
There is a clear disconnect between what is known about the volume issues and how it actually sounds in practice. With more reports coming in every day, it may be time for Hulu to make some serious improvements to the quality of their ads.
Other streaming services like Netflix have much quieter commercials .
If Hulu is going to compete in this space, it needs to not only offer customers the same content at a lower price but also implement technology that can remove ads from its service completely. Until then, Hulu will continue to be stuck in the limbo of mediocrity.
Conclusion
I made that up. I have no idea if that is how it actually happens. There are many reasons why ads are loud, but what about the choice of content?
For example, if you watch the show Impractical Jokers on Hulu with your kids, you will undoubtedly be tuning into ads for other shows targeted at them as well.