FAST platforms and broadcast distributors require ATSC A/85-compliant audio from their content partners. Amagi CLOUDPORT and Amagi Now have loudness normalisation built in — so your channels meet carriage requirements from day one.
California SB 576 — effective July 1, 2026. Streaming services serving California consumers must deliver commercial audio compliant with ATSC A/85. If your FAST channels reach California viewers, this applies to you.
As a channel originator, your primary loudness obligation is to your distributor — FAST platforms and MVPDs pass ATSC A/85 requirements downstream to content partners as a condition of carriage.
The CALM Act (Public Law 111-311, effective December 13, 2012) requires broadcast stations, cable operators, and satellite TV providers to ensure commercial audio is not louder than the programming it accompanies, per ATSC A/85 (−24 LKFS).
As a content partner originating a channel, the FCC compliance obligation formally sits with your distribution partner — the broadcaster, cable headend, or FAST platform operator. However, your outgoing signal is the first link in that compliance chain. If your channel originates non-compliant audio, your distributor's own compliance is at risk.
SB 576, signed October 6, 2025 and effective July 1, 2026, extends CALM Act-equivalent loudness requirements to any "video streaming service" — defined as an entity that makes video programming available directly to consumers via internet protocol.
For most FAST channel operators, the direct SB 576 obligation falls on the FAST platform (Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, Tubi, etc.) — the entity delivering content to California consumers — not on the content partner originating the channel. This is similar to the CALM Act structure. However, platforms will contractually require compliant audio from content partners to satisfy their own SB 576 obligations, just as they do for CALM Act.
If your organisation also operates its own streaming service or app that directly serves California consumers, SB 576 applies to you directly in that capacity.
Beyond the legal landscape, FAST platform operators maintain their own technical acceptance standards. Content partners are typically required to demonstrate loudness compliance as part of the channel onboarding and ongoing carriage process.
Common platform requirements include: delivery of a signal meeting ATSC A/85 (−24 LKFS / −2 dBTP), provision of compliance documentation or test reports on request, and periodic re-verification for channels running advertisements from third-party sources.
Platforms specify loudness targets in their content partner technical guides. ATSC A/85 is the standard across all major US FAST platforms.
Platforms require evidence of compliant loudness — at launch and on request for existing channels, particularly following viewer complaints.
Platforms may request compliance evidence if viewer complaints about audio loudness are received against your channel.
As a content partner, you are demonstrating compliance to your distributor — not filing with the FCC. The evidence that matters is documentation showing your outgoing signal consistently meets ATSC A/85.
| Evidence Type | Used For |
|---|---|
| Channel Testing Report | Distributor / platform request |
| Compliance Attestation Letter | Platform compliance sign-off |
| Playout System Config Record | Platform technical audit |
| Annual Monitoring Log | SB 576 / ongoing carriage |
As a channel originator, you sit at the top of the audio delivery chain. Getting compliance right at origination — in your playout system — is far more reliable and cost-effective than correcting loudness problems downstream after a platform flags your channel.
Ensure Amagi CLOUDPORT or Amagi Now is configured with ATSC A/85 loudness normalisation enabled. Your outgoing signal should consistently measure −24 LKFS for all content, including commercial breaks you originate.
Whether submitting a new channel or auditing an existing one ahead of the SB 576 deadline, verify your outgoing signal meets loudness requirements. Amagi's Tier 2 service produces a formal testing report you can share directly with your distribution partner.
Keep records of your loudness configuration and periodic test results. If a FAST platform or distributor requests evidence of compliance — or if SB 576 enforcement is triggered — you can respond quickly with documented evidence.
Amagi CLOUDPORT and Amagi Now are the primary products for channel origination and playout — both include ATSC A/85 loudness normalisation as a core capability. Thunderstorm is relevant if you control your own ad insertion.
Cloud-based broadcast playout for television networks and content owners. Recommended for broadcast and FAST channel origination.
End-to-end cloud platform for FAST, OTT, and broadcast channel creation, scheduling, and playout.
Server-side ad insertion platform for dynamic, contextual ad delivery on streaming and FAST.
Whether you have channels already live or are preparing new ones, Amagi offers hands-on testing services to verify, document, and demonstrate audio loudness compliance to FAST platforms, MVPDs, and broadcast distributors. With California SB 576 effective July 1, 2026, existing channel operators need formal compliance evidence now — not just at launch.
Everything you need to demonstrate compliant audio to your platforms and distributors.
Questions from content partners and channel originators about audio loudness compliance.
At the federal level, the CALM Act compliance obligation formally sits with the broadcaster, cable operator, or FAST platform operator that distributes your channel — not with the content partner. However, as a channel originator, your outgoing signal is the first link in that compliance chain. If your channel originates loud commercials, the distributor's own compliance is at risk, which typically means contractual consequences for you as the content partner.
Under California SB 576 (effective July 1, 2026), the direct obligation falls on the entity making content available to consumers — typically the FAST platform, not the content partner. However, platforms will pass that requirement to you contractually as a carriage condition. If you also operate your own streaming service or app serving California consumers, SB 576 applies to you directly in that capacity.
The most straightforward evidence is a Channel Testing Report — a measurement of your channel's outgoing signal showing that commercial audio does not exceed programme loudness levels per ATSC A/85 (−24 LKFS). Amagi's Tier 2 service produces exactly this, in a formal report you can share directly with your platform.
A CALM Act Certification (available as a free template download) is also commonly accepted by platforms as a sign-off document confirming your playout system is configured to ATSC A/85 — useful both at launch and as ongoing evidence of compliance.
Both products include loudness normalisation capability aligned to ATSC A/85 — but compliance depends on your configuration and the content passing through the system. Amagi does not issue CALM Act certifications; the products provide the technical means to maintain compliant loudness levels.
Specifically: content you originate through Amagi — programmes, promos, and any commercials you insert at origination — is normalised. If a FAST platform inserts its own advertising downstream of your origination point, that ad loudness is the platform's responsibility to manage, not yours.
If the FAST platform handles ad insertion downstream of your origination point (which is the case for most major FAST platforms — Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Tubi, Pluto TV, etc.), ad loudness normalisation is the platform's responsibility, not yours as the content partner. Your obligation is to deliver compliant programme audio from your origination system.
If you run your own server-side ad insertion (SSAI) via Amagi Thunderstorm, then ad loudness is within your control and your responsibility — and Thunderstorm's normalisation handles this automatically.
Yes — the SB 576 deadline applies to all channels reaching California viewers, not just new launches. FAST platforms will require compliant audio from all content partners to meet their own SB 576 obligations. If your existing channel has never been formally tested and you don't have documentation of compliance, now is the time to address this.
The practical steps: (1) Confirm your Amagi CLOUDPORT or Amagi Now configuration has ATSC A/85 loudness normalisation enabled. (2) If your platform requests formal evidence, Amagi's Tier 2 Compliance Testing service will audit your live channel signal and produce a report you can provide directly. (3) Download the free CALM Act Certification template from the Resources section and have it executed by an authorised officer for additional documentary evidence.
Contact your Engagement Manager or Account Manager to discuss testing before the deadline.
California SB 576 (signed October 2025, effective July 1, 2026) defines a "video streaming service" as an entity that makes video programming directly available to consumers via internet protocol. For FAST channels distributed through platforms such as Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, or Tubi, the platform is the "video streaming service" and holds the primary SB 576 obligation — similar to how the MVPD holds the CALM Act obligation under federal law.
As a content partner, your obligation is contractual: platforms will require you to deliver SB 576-compliant audio as a condition of carriage. If you also operate your own streaming service or app that directly serves California consumers, SB 576 applies to you directly in that capacity. Either way, ensuring your outgoing playout signal meets ATSC A/85 is the right approach — Amagi CLOUDPORT and Amagi Now support this out of the box.
Tier 2 — Compliance Testing is the right choice for most content partners. Amagi tests your outgoing channel signal and produces a formal report showing pass/fail results against ATSC A/85. This report is designed to be shared with your FAST platform or MVPD as compliance evidence — whether for an existing channel ahead of the SB 576 July 1 deadline, a new channel launch submission, or a distributor compliance request.
Tier 3 — Full Testing + Ad Delivery adds testing of dynamically inserted ads via Amagi Thunderstorm. This is only relevant if you control your own SSAI. If your FAST platform handles ad insertion, Tier 2 is sufficient. Pricing for both is available on request through your Engagement Manager or Account Manager.
LKFS (Loudness, K-weighted, relative to Full Scale) is the unit used to measure integrated programme loudness under ATSC A/85 — the standard referenced by the CALM Act. LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) is an equivalent unit; the terms are interchangeable. A target of −24 LKFS means your channel's average perceived loudness, measured over a whole programme or segment, should be at approximately −24 on this scale.
The reason it matters for content partners: FAST platforms and distributors specify their loudness requirements in LKFS/LUFS. If your origination system isn't normalising to −24 LKFS, your channel will be flagged for loud commercials, which can result in complaints, platform requests for evidence, or in the worst case, channel suspension.
With California SB 576 effective July 1, 2026, existing channel operators should act now. To discuss compliance testing for your live channels, channel launch submissions, or any CALM Act / SB 576 questions, reach out to your Engagement Manager or Account Manager — or email us directly.