On-demand access to subtitling services

Availability of broadcast subtitling services

Subtitling services have never been so bad. It seems that everywhere you look, the quality is poor.

Keep an eye out on the area of ATVOD – legislation may be on its way in a few years time for subtitling services / off-line captions.

Broadcasting: Sensory Impairment

Question

Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve the availability of access services to on-demand broadcasting content for people with sensory loss.[HL3794]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): As noted in the Government’s Connectivity, Content and Consumers: Britain’s digital platform for growth strategy paper published in July, the Government has committed to work with Ofcom and The Authority for Television

17 Dec 2013 : Column WA173

On-Demand (ATVoD) over the next three years to look at how the amount of Subtitles and Audio Description (AD) available via non-linear network providers can be improved. Progress will be monitored via ATVOD’s annual survey of its members, that also assess their efforts made on this issue.

The Minister for Communications will be writing to Peter Johnson CEO of ATVoD to let them know that he will be monitoring responses to the 2013 ATVoD survey to review what progress is being made to make online (non-linear) TV and Catch-Up and On-Demand services more accessible to disabled and older consumers. If it is clear that progress isn’t being made in three years’ time – a reasonable timeframe in our view – we will consider legislation.