Why Hulu Commercials are so loud? Hulu commercials are purposely made loud to catch your attention and make you more interested in buying their product, even if you’re not really focused on them.
Their aim is to reach as many people as possible, and they use loud commercials as a strategy to do that.
Why Does Hulu Have So Many Commercials?
Several reasons exist for this.
They might be:
- Firstly, advertising is one of Hulu’s primary sources of revenue. They have to sell ads to keep the lights on and continue offering quality content.
- Secondly, Hulu’s ad-supported model allows them to keep their subscription prices low. If they didn’t have ads, they would likely have to raise their prices, which would turn off a lot of potential subscribers.
- Lastly, ads also help Hulu to personalize the user experience. By serving targeted ads, Hulu can provide a more customized experience for each individual.
Hulu knows that people hate ads. They try to make them as tolerable as possible by limiting them to one or two per break and by giving viewers the option to pay a little extra to get an ad-free experience.
☞ Why Does Hulu Have Commercials and Netflix Doesn’t?
Netflix is a subscription service, meaning it makes money from people signing up and paying monthly (or annual) fees.
On the other hand, Hulu has ads because it’s a way to keep their prices down for customers.
This means that Hulu needs to show ads to make money.
Another reason is that Netflix has more subscribers than Hulu. This gives them more negotiating power when it comes to ad space.
Netflix can say to potential advertisers,
“we have more viewers than Hulu, so you should advertise with us.“
It’s also possible that Netflix has decided to avoid dealing with the hassle of showing ads. That said, both companies have different ways of making money, and both have different business models.
☞ How many ads does Hulu have per episode?
On average, there are five ad breaks per show on Hulu.
This can vary depending on the length of the show and the number of commercials in each gap.
☞ Why can’t you skip commercials on Hulu?
It’s a simple concept to understand. Hulu has an agreement with the networks that supply its content, and part of that agreement prohibits ad-skipping.
Plus, if people were allowed to skip ads at will, it would greatly reduce Hulu’s revenue and ultimately result in higher prices for all subscribers.
How to Get Rid of Hulu Commercials
- Upgrade to an ad-free package.
- Turn on audio leveling.
- Use an audio compressor.
- Install an Ad blocker.
Here are the detailed explanations:
Step 1: Install an Ad Blocking Browser plugin
The most straightforward way to get rid of Hulu ads is to install an ad blocker plugin like Hulu Ads Skipper (for Chrome Browser) or this one (for Microsoft Edge Browser).
It’s the most powerful and effective way by which you can easily block Hulu ads on your Chrome browser.
You need to open your computer browser (whatever browser you use), then search for those ad-blocker plugins by typing their names. Then install it and enjoy your endless shows.
Note: Installing plugins on a TV isn’t possible. To apply this method, use a laptop or desktop web browser and connect it to your TV with an HDMI cable.
Step 2: Turn auto volume mode on
Although this feature may not be available on all TVs, you can check if it is available on your TV.
With this feature adjusted, you can automatically lower the volume of ads by about 12 to 15 decibels. To turn on auto volume mode on your TV, follow the below steps:
- Samsung Smart TVs: Look under Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > “Auto Volume.“
- LG WebOS TVs: Look under Settings > Sound > Volume Mode > “Auto Volume.”
- Vizio SmartCast TVs: From the menu, go to Audio and turn on Volume Leveling.
Another option is for those who use streaming devices to watch their favorite shows on Hulu. Using a streaming device, you can enable the Automatic Volume Leveling feature.
By activating this feature, you will be able to reduce the volume of loud noises while quiet sounds, such as dialogue, will be amplified.
Remember that this option isn’t explicitly designed to lower commercial noise, although it does work in the case of exceptionally loud commercials. But if you don’t currently own one of the below-mentioned streaming devices, you might consider purchasing one to try out the automatic volume leveling feature.
However, to enable Automatic Volume Leveling on your steaming device, follow the below steps:
- Roku sticks and TVs: Press * while playing the video, scroll to Volume mode, and choose “Leveling.”
- Fire TV devices: Go to Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio > Advanced Audio and enable “Volume Leveler.”
- Apple TV: Head to Settings > Video and Audio, then enable “Reduce Loud Sounds.”
Step 3: Use the web filtering feature in your router
Web filtering is a feature that most modern web routers (especially third-party routers) allow you to use to block certain websites and services.
This feature can prevent Hulu from loading commercials using a specified service.
Depending on your local network configuration, the methods to achieve this may vary, but this should give you an idea of what to search for.
To begin, open a web browser and type in your router’s IP address. This is usually 192.168.0.1 or something close. If you’re not sure, check the manual for your router.
After you are within the router’s settings menu (usually listed as an advanced options feature), look for the Web filtering option.
Find the option for web filtering and add the following domain:
ads-e-darwin.hulustream.com
When you’re finished, save your changes and restart your router.
The majority of Hulu’s advertising should be banned by blocking this site. I hope this will work for you. Let me know in the comment box.
Keep in mind that there’s no assurance that this trick will succeed, and Hulu may restrict you from blocking this domain in the future. If Hulu still won’t load after blocking this site, follow the instructions above to remove it from your browser filtering list.
Step 4: Subscribe to Hulu’s premium
If you are still reading this article, you might have failed to adjust the volume labeling on your TV or install an ad-blocker plugin on your computer.
In this case, subscribing to Hulu’s premium is the best option.
Hulu’s no-ads package costs $12.99 per month, and you can try it out for free for 30 days. The ad-free Hulu package is your best option if you’re a regular Hulu viewer.
However, leaving Hulu is the more intelligent choice if you don’t want to subscribe to Hulu’s premium plan and don’t want to get annoyed by Hulu’s loud commercials.
Many people, including me, left Hulu just for this reason.
Although Hulu said their developers are working hard to prevent this problem, users are still bothered by these commercials.
When creating a new Hulu account, you will only get a 30-day free trial. But I think it’s worth considering paying for Hulu Premium to remove ads completely. You can read more about the Hulu ads vs. no ads comparison at the above link.
F.A.Q.s
Q: Why do Hulu commercials seem so much louder than the shows I’m watching?
This is a common complaint among Hulu viewers, but it’s not actually Hulu’s fault.
Instead, it’s due to a technique called “dynamic range compression” that advertisers use to make their commercials stand out.
This technique reduces the difference between the loudest and softest parts of the audio, which can make the commercial seem louder than the show.
Additionally, some advertisers may deliberately make their commercials louder to grab your attention.
Q: Why do advertisers want their commercials to be louder than the shows they’re accompanying?
Advertisers want their commercials to be noticed and remembered, and using dynamic range compression and other techniques to make them louder is one way to achieve this.
Additionally, advertisers may assume that viewers are more likely to pay attention to a commercial if it’s louder than the show they’re watching, especially if they’re doing something else (like cooking or browsing on their phone) while the show is on.
Q: Can I complain to Hulu about loud commercials?
Yes, if you’re experiencing particularly loud commercials on Hulu, you can contact their customer support team to report the issue.
However, keep in mind that the volume of commercials is largely determined by the advertisers, not Hulu itself.
Abdur Rahman is a seasoned journalist who covers all things related to TV and streaming. As of May 2, 2023, Abdur is writing for Homespoiler.com. More about him