Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime are all set to come under strict ‘enhanced regulations’ that will impact the streaming services very soon.
This comes after new legislation has been put in place that will impact subscribers of streaming platforms in the UK.
The UK government announced that it was bringing these platforms under ‘enhanced regulation’ by Ofcom that sets out to benefit over 18 million people in the country with disabilities that impact their sight or hearing.
On the government website, it explained: “Platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, and public service broadcaster VoD services like ITVX and Channel 4, will now be required to follow similar Ofcom accessibility requirements to those currently in place for traditional broadcasters.
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“Ministers will legislate to create a new VoD accessibility code, enforced by Ofcom, which will set minimum requirements for accessibility features. Mainstream streaming services will need to ensure that at least 80% of their total catalogue is subtitled, 10% is audio-described, and 5% is signed.”
So, why are the British government implementing this change to how we stream our shows? It’s set to benefit around 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, and the 350,000 people who are blind or partially sighted.
Commenting on the move, Media Minister Ian Murray said: “With UK audiences increasingly favouring on-demand platforms over live TV, we want to ensure that no one is left behind, and that everyone can enjoy the huge range of content available on video-on-demand services.
“Implementing a new Ofcom-regulated accessibility code for our largest video-on-demand services will give people with disabilities impacting their sight or hearing peace of mind that they’ll be able to stream all their favourite films and TV shows long into the future.”
Victoria Boelman, who is the director of Insight and Policy at RNID, added: “Everyone deserves to be able to stream their favourite shows and access a wide variety of content across video on demand services. Being deaf, having hearing loss or other sensory loss should never stand in the way of that.
“Bringing on-demand services in line with traditional broadcasting is much needed, and the new Ofcom rules reflect the significant progress we’ve seen in accessibility since we launched our Subtitle It campaign in 2015.
“However, we urge the UK’s video on-demand providers to go further than the minimum requirements and not wait for them to come into force – so deaf people and those with hearing loss can access as much content as possible as soon as possible.”