Consultation about described video and audio description
Current status: Decision issued
The CRTC is introducing changes to better support Canadians who rely on described video and audio description. Canadians will be able to access new original scripted shows with described video, and news and information programs with audio description on television and online.
Read the regulatory policy about described video and audio description.
As part of the CRTC’s efforts to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework, we sought your comments on the policy development for described video and audio description for online streaming services, on-demand services, and some elements of traditional TV.
This consultation ran from June 25 to August 26, 2024 and was extended from September 19 to November 20, 2024 to allow for additional time for any new participants to submit comments.
Who was the focus of this consultation
This consultation was of most interest to:
- Canadians who are blind or partially sighted
- Canadian and foreign online streaming services operating in Canada
- On-demand service providers
- Traditional broadcasters
Key topics for discussion
We invited you to provide your comments on:
- current barriers for persons who are blind or partially sighted to accessing online and on-demand content
- the levels of described video and audio description that should be provided for online and on-demand content
- whether the CRTC should establish and impose quality standards for described video and audio description
- how to implement appropriate reporting, monitoring, and feedback mechanisms
- industry engagement with the blind and partially sighted community
Read the Notice of Consultation for more details.
What we learned
- Interventions (comments we received online, by mail, and by fax)
Related information
- TV access for people who are blind or partially sighted: Described video and audio description
- Cogeco On Demand - Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-287, 25 August 2023
- Amendment proposed by Bell Media Inc., Corus Entertainment Inc. and Rogers Media Inc. to their condition of licence that requires prime time programming to be broadcast with described video, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2019-392, 3 December 2019
- Standard requirements for television stations, discretionary services, and on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-436, 2 November 2016
- Let’s Talk TV - Navigating the Road Ahead - Making informed choices about television providers and improving accessibility to television programming, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-104, 26 March 2015
- Accessibility of telecommunications and broadcasting services, Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-430, 21 July 2009
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