Washington, D.C. (October 11, 2007) -- Ever noticed that the commercials on a High-Definition TV program sometimes seem louder than the program itself?

You're not alone -- and you're not imagining it. However, the cause of the problem is not what you probably suspect.

Charles Myers, vice president of distribution and technology for Discovery Communications, says the problem lies in the fact that the industry hasn't adopted audio standards for high-def transmissions.


Consequently, the commercials and programs often are produced with different audio specifications, which cause the sound levels to vary during the broadcast.

During a panel discussion yesterday at the HD World conference in New York, Myers says people "from across the globe" have contacted Discovery to inquire about why the commercials are sometimes louder than the program.

"There may not be anything that gets more (mail and phone calls," he said.

Myers said the industry needs to adopt uniform audio standards.

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