The use of background music or sound in programmes is often too intrusive and irritating.
The BBC's response
We appreciate that some viewers and listeners are irritated by music or background noise in programmes. Some find noise makes it difficult to hear dialogue, while music may be considered badly chosen or even unnecessary. Naturally we regret this whenever it causes annoyance or frustration.
It is difficult to strike the right balance between differing opinions on acceptable levels of noise and music. Music in particular is partly a subjective matter in which personal taste plays a large part. It is added to programmes for many reasons and can be vital to underpinning moods and feelings, adding dimensions to a programme or conveying emotion. It has many applications in programme making.
Programmes can often sound different in the editing suite compared with being viewed on an ordinary television set. We have issued guidance notes to producers, and provide an internal video, to raise awareness amongst programme makers about the issues involved in background sound. This offers them hints and tips on its use. Although producers can control these effects within the programmes they make themselves, other programmes are bought in and there is no straightforward way to vary background sound levels before broadcast.
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