No it’s not R2D2’s long lost cousin, although the force is definitely strong with this as R128 audio loudness correction is gradually gaining ground within the broadcast industry in Europe. http://tech.ebu.ch/docs/r/r128.pdf (EBU Recommendation R128 pdf). IMD’s John Bolton has recently set up a testing program with some of the industry’s most used loudness meters and fed back the info to the manufactures. This helps everyone to be on the same page. Sky are one of the first UK channels to use R128 as described by the EBU. Chris Aldous, Commercial Operations Controller at Sky, outlines the move;

“…it means we are not subjecting our viewers to commercial breaks that have content with audio levels much higher than the programmes they are within”…

France has made loudness rules inspired by EBU’s R128 mandatory since January 1st, through France’s standard known as “CST-RT017 v3”. IMD have assisted clients and master providers to comply with these new audio rules which are new fully applicable. Germany and Austria are following the trend this September and we expect more UK channels to follow.