Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to seek public feedback on the adequacy of public service broadcasting platforms for accessing digital content.

The Government recognises the importance of television being accessible to all. Under the Communications Act 2003 and Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996, broadcasters, including public service broadcasters, are already required to meet targets for access services which includes subtitling, audio description and sign language for their linear TV services. Statutory targets are set by Ofcom which include five and ten year targets for licensed television services. Ofcom’s Code on Television Access Services sets out these obligations and provides guidance and best practice on access services for broadcasters. Ofcom assesses broadcasters to ensure they provide appropriate provision and Ofcom carries out access research on how services meet the needs of consumers. If a member of the public has specific concerns over a service, they can make a complaint to Ofcom.

More than three quarters of households now use video-on-demand services, but the provision of subtitles, signing and audio description on these services has lagged behind broadcast TV. Following public consultation, through the Media Bill the Government is putting in place access service requirements to ensure that mainstream Video on Demand (VoD) services, including those of public service broadcasters, are accessible to people with disabilities. Aligning with existing broadcasting requirements, this will mean that 80% of a services’ total catalogue of hours must be subtitled, 10% of content audio-described, and 5% of content signed.