Share your thoughts about described video and audio description
Current status: Open
- Start date: June 25, 2024
- End date: August 26, 2024
As part of the CRTC’s efforts to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework, we are seeking 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. Share your views on how to ensure that Canadians who rely on described video and audio description have access to barrier-free programming on all platforms.
How to participate
There are a few ways you can participate. Please note that we will make all comments public. The deadline to participate is August 26, 2024 at 8 p.m. (EDT).
Submit a formal comment online
Use the intervention form.
You will have to agree to our privacy statement first.
Participate by mail
Send a letter with your ideas and input to the following address:
Secretary General
CRTC
Ottawa ON K1A 0N2
Send us a fax
Send a fax to 819-994-0218 with your comments.
If you need help submitting your comments, contact our hearings and public proceedings group by email to hearing@crtc.gc.ca.
Who is the focus of this consultation?
We are looking to learn from anyone with an interest in described video and audio description.
This consultation is 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 want to develop a regulatory policy for described video and audio description that allows Canadians access to content without barriers, whether it is accessed through online streaming services, on-demand services, or traditional broadcasters.
We invite 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
Learn more about the topics for discussion set out in the Notice of Consultation.
What we are learning
- 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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