The company that provides the broadcasting feed for the World Cup is doubling its audio filters to reduce the constant blaring buzz of vuvuzelas.
Host Broadcast Services said Tuesday it also is encouraging the various rights holders to replace their commentators' microphones with its headsets. Those are more effective at filtering out crowd noise, HBS said. While the measures will mute some of the atmosphere at the games, HBS said it increased the level of the ball mics to provide some balance.
The vuvuzelas have been the talk of the World Cup. Broadcasters around the world have received complaints from viewers, and several have taken their own measures to try and reduce the drone.
The BBC, meanwhile, is considering filtering out crowd noise following a deluge of complaints about the vuvuzelas.
By Tuesday morning, the BBC had received 545 complaints from viewers about the constant buzzing sound of the plastic horns used by fans in South Africa.
"We have already taken steps to minimize the noise and are continuing to monitor the situation," the BBC said in a statement. "If the vuvuzela continues to impact on audience enjoyment, we will look at what other options we can take to reduce the volume further."
The broadcaster is considering offering viewers the possibility of muting most ambient noise while maintaining game commentary through the "red button" digital service. Viewers would push the red button on their remote control to receive the quieter broadcast on a separate channel.
The BBC will offer the option in the next few days.
On Monday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter defended the vuvuzela on the grounds that it represents the "different rhythm" of Africa.
In Canada, a CBC spokesman said the network had received several hundred complaints about the noise.
Another British broadcaster, ITV, has received more than 5,000 complaints following a technical mixup during its high-definition showing of Saturday's game between England and the United States. The network went to a commercial by mistake, with viewers missing Steven Gerrard's early goal that put England ahead 1-0. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
