I have found the commercials are both louder and ---(honestly!) quieter than the programs. When there's almost silence from the TV, I'll look up from my book and see a barely audible commercial. They should all be that way!

I also find that shows vary in volume. Not just from station to station, but on the same channel. At first I thought my hearing was going. Surely there is a control room that can tell when the volume changes. Isn't that what all those dials and 'controls' are for?

I get aggravated too when a program runs a tape during an interview and the volume of the tape is so loud I can't hear what they are saying on the live show.