The EOC has made a submission in response to the Communications Authority (CA)’s public consultation on renewal of domestic free television programme service licences. The EOC recommends that the CA review and enhance the current requirements imposed on free TV licensees on various accessibility features, including subtitling, sign language interpretation and audio description.  Such improvements would improve access to free TV services for audience members with hearing and visual impairments.

To foster inclusive free TV services for people with disabilities, the submission outlines six key recommendations, including:

1. Requesting licensees to submit progressive target and time line on mandatory subtitling;
2. Encouraging licensees to leverage artificial intelligence to fulfil subtitling requirements;
3. Implementing targets for including sign language;
4. Encouraging licensees to leverage artificial intelligence to complement human sign language interpreters;
5. Requesting licensees to submit plans on mandatory provision of audio description for a certain percentage of TV programme hours; and
6. Developing a best practice guideline for enhancing TV programme accessibility.

In an article published in HK01, EOC Chairperson Ms Linda LAM Mei-sau wrote, “Free television licensees have a responsibility to address the needs of all viewers, not just the mainstream audience. Enhancing the accessibility of TV programmes is not only a technical issue but also a means to achieve social inclusion and equality. With technological advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, the EOC believes that the Government and the industry can utilise technology to significantly improve the accessibility of TV programmes in both hardware and software. With clear guidelines and regulatory mechanisms in place, all viewers, regardless of their abilities, can equally enjoy the information and entertainment television offers.”

• Read the submission
• Read EOC Chairperson’s article on HK01 (in Chinese only)