The percentage of electronics at the end of their lives which were recycled.
The EPA found that the percentage remained consistent from 1999-2005. Even as recycling rates went up, the amount of electronics reaching end of life outpaced the increase, leaving the figure static. (source: EPA, July 2008)
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This has been fixed for normal broadcast for sometime, like aaron said, I think it was a FCC rule.
I however have noticed this on digital and HD broadcasts now. I have not noted if this is just on OTA broadcasts via cable (for me) or all including cable/satellite only channels... but it has been a problem.
When I first heard about the new Dolby technology some months ago via the HTguys podcast, I almost literally threw my hands up in the air and yelled "Hallelujah!" We've needed a high-quality (read perceptibly lossless in mix distortion) volume regulator for sooooo long. And it's NOT for just commercials, folks.
Think of it this way...how many times have you changed channels (digital, satellite, cable, OTA, you name it) and the variance in volume level is astounding, right? So this will really change surfing, for one.
And also, my BIG pet peeve: how many "action" or "thrillers" or "horror" or "sci-fi" etc movies have soundtrack mixes where they seem to rely on blasting sound effects as a way to 'surprise' the audience (an ANNOYING cheat, as it should be quality filmmaking that does this, not cheap shots like this)? They have the dialogue volume really low so you crank up the volume to hear what the hell the actors are saying, then WHAM!!! a window shatters or a machine gun suddenly rattles off. It's not shocking or exhilerating in any substantive manner and it really only ends up annoying the crap out of me (and I know I'm not alone). A loud battle scene I can understand, but the filmic equivalent of a fireside sudden "BOO!!" is way, way, way overused.
I said it when I first heard of this Dolby Volume and I'll say it again--the SECOND it shows up in an A/V reciever, I'm buying it. Money well spent and I think it will prove to be about as groundbreaking/transformative to a quality, user-empowering HT experience as the commercial skip button on DVRs and macro-programmable remotes have proven to be.
Bring it one, Dolby! Hoorah!
I've noticed it on my HD locals and on HD cable channels. Its especially bad on ESPN-HD, which sucks because sports (mainly football) is the only thing I absolutely have to watch live, so commercial skipping is not an option. And sometimes I'll leave it on for background noise until I get the screaming lawyer or car salesman.
I haven't noticed any loud commercials in a while. Although if it does happen I'll be the first to bitch up a storm.
Has anyone else noticed that HD channel volumes seem to be much lower than SD channels?