TV Noise Pollution

[WendyS]

Why do TV programmers always insist on adding background music to programmes, especially documentaries & factual programmes?   

It drives me crazy and really spoils my viewing. .  Is there a campaign I can join to try and persuade programme producers to stop this?    I know a number of elderly people who are either deaf or use deaf aids and this background music really plays havoc with their listening ability.

[Hippy]

It is an utter pain! Let me know if you find or form a campaign for clear speech.

A recent example that drove me to fury was a sea scene with tossing waves, and of course we got the reasonable sound of the wind and water. That was fine, but as the narration continued it was accompanied by Wagnerian horns and wailing strings, presumably intended to convey stirring and increasing danger. However, this completely wiped out the narration as the voice was reduced to an incoherent mumble, failing in its valiant battle against the orchestral forces of Valhalla!

Musical and FX accompaniment to theatre, film, TV & radio presentations should add to the story without being intrusive; not there to display the director's or editor's cleverness. The real skill is having a background track that compliments the presentation and of which the viewers/listeners are not overtly aware.

[Chapel]

I love background music, when done properly.

I remember an experiment where they played a scene from 'The Omen' without music, then with.

The difference in atmosphere was incredible.