Celebrity news

Senate turns down TV commercials

Legislation to turn down the volume on those loud TV commercials that send couch potatoes diving for their remote controls looks like it'll soon become law.

The Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday to require TV stations and cable companies to keep commercials at the same volume as the programs they interrupt.

The House has passed similar legislation. Before it can become law, minor differences between the two versions have to be worked out when Congress returns to Washington after the Nov. 2 election.

Ever since television caught on in the 1950s, the Federal Communication Commission has been getting complaints about blaring commercials. But the FCC concluded in 1984 there was no fair way to write regulations controlling the "apparent loudness" of commercials. So it hasn't regulated them.

Correcting sound levels is more complicated than using the remote control. Television shows and ads come from a variety of sources, from local businesses to syndicators.

Managing the transition between programs and ads without spoiling the artistic intent of the producers poses technical challenges and may require TV broadcasters to purchase new equipment. To address the issue, an industry organization recently produced guidelines on how to process, measure and transmit audio in a uniform way.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, requires the FCC to adopt those recommendations as regulations within a year.

Its title is the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or CALM.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat and co-sponsor, said it's time to stop the use of loud commercials to startle viewers into paying attention. "TV viewers should be able to watch their favorite programs without fear of losing their hearing when the show goes to a commercial," he said.

Anderson Cooper to hit daytime circuit

Anderson Cooper is looking to keep 'em honest, even in the daytime.

The CNN host has inked a deal with Telepictures Productions and Warner Bros. Domestic Television for an hour-long daytime program to launch in fall 2011, according to a press release; it's expected to be pitched to stations in the upcoming weeks.

The show, targeting female viewers, will have a topical format - with subjects ranging from pop culture fare to social issues and news stories. There might even be a guest or two (a mix of celebs, newsmakers and real people) and hidden camera experiments.

"It's fun and interesting to work in daytime television," said Cooper, who will serve as an executive producer, in a statement. "The format is unique and you can really go in-depth on a wide range of fascinating and compelling stories. With this new program, I hope to relay important information and relate to people and the audience in a completely different way. It's an exciting opportunity to show another side of myself and create something worthwhile and special in daytime."

For fans of his nighttime gig, there's no need to start channel surfing.

As part of the deal brokered between Warner Bros., the silver-haired newsman and his employers at CNN, which has an exclusive contract with the host, Cooper renewed his contract with the cable news network to continue manning the Anderson Cooper 360 desk.