ASL – Call for comments – Availability of closed captioning – 3 of 10
Video is also available in Langue des signes québecoise (LSQ).
Video Transcript
Call for comments
To identify, remove and prevent barriers to access to online content for persons who are Deaf or hard of hearing, the Commission is seeking to develop a regulatory policy regarding closed captioning of programs provided by online streaming undertakings operating in Canada.
Accordingly, the Commission is seeking comments on the following issues:
- availability of closed captioning;
- quality of closed captioning;
- reporting and compliance;
- addressing complaints;
- consultations with Deaf and hard of hearing communities;
- online streaming undertakings that should be subject to the new regulatory policy; and
- implementation.
Availability of closed captioning
Currently, licensees of all English- and French-language television services are required to caption 100% of programs over the broadcast day. Television stations and discretionary services are also expected to provide closed captioning for programming aired during the overnight period, where available.
On-demand services, such as pay-per-view and video-on-demand services, are required to caption 100% of English- and French-language programming in their inventories.
Licensees of television stations and discretionary services are also subject to requirements relating to closed captioning of advertising, sponsorship messages, and promotional content, whereas licensees of other types of television services, such as on-demand services, have expectations in this regard.
In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-104, the Commission determined that the online availability of closed captioning should be increased and stated that, at the time of their next licence renewals, broadcasters would be expected to ensure that when programming with closed captioning on traditional platforms is made available on non-linear online platforms, the closed captioning is included.
In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2016-436, the Commission acknowledged that licensees are not able to control whether third parties adhere to closed captioning requirements. Therefore, it amended the expectation relating to the provision of closed captioning on non-linear online platforms so that it applies only in regard to such platforms operated by the licensee.
While closed captioning seems to be widely available on most major online streaming platforms, this is not always the case. For example, availability may differ depending on the language of the content or its country of origin. Live programs may also be less likely to be captioned than pre-recorded programs.
In light of the above, the Commission seeks comments on the following:
- Q1. What should the Commission consider when deciding which online streaming undertakings should be subject to the regulatory policy on closed captioning? For example, should it be based on subscriber numbers, revenues, or some other criteria to determine applicability?
- Q2. Should the Commission require online streaming undertakings to provide closed captioning for 100% of English- and French-language pre-recorded programs in their inventories?
- Q3. Is it feasible and appropriate for the Commission to require online streaming undertakings to provide closed captioning for 100% of English- and French-language live programs?
- Q4. What factors should the Commission take into consideration that specifically relate to the online broadcasting environment (e.g., are there challenges or obstacles related to technology, resources, acquired content, etc.)?
The purpose of this consultation was to find out how we can ensure that Canadians who rely on closed captioning have access to barrier-free programming online.
This video in sign language shows the content of the Call for comments – Availability of closed captioning section in the Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-137.
Consultation on closed captioning of programming from online streaming services
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