SRG: New agreement on services for the sensory impaired

The new agreement between SRG and the associations for the sensory impaired provides for a significant improvement in services for the sensory impaired on television, as detailed in a press release issued by SRG on Monday. In future, subtitled television programs will also be available on the Internet with subtitles. The television stations are in the process of upgrading their IT infrastructure accordingly. The subtitling of sports broadcasts will also be significantly expanded. As part of the new agreement, SRG has also undertaken to monitor and improve the quality of subtitles more closely. Not only feature films, but also other types of programs are to be provided with audio description (acoustic commentary of the plot).

Article 7 of the Radio and Television Ordinance (RTVO) stipulates that SRG must prepare a certain proportion of its programming for visually and hearing impaired people as part of its mandate: one third of broadcasting time with subtitles, at least one information program per day with sign language and at least two films per month in each official language with audio description. SRG invests around CHF 10 million a year in making television programs accessible to people with disabilities.

Content of the services regulated

While the ordinance sets out the quantitative framework, the agreement between SRG and the associations of people with sensory impairments regulates the content of the services. According to SRG, its aim is to implement the wishes of people with sensory impairments as well as possible. For this reason, regular coordination meetings are held between SRG and the associations in the three major language regions.

Due to the good agreement between the partners, it is no longer necessary for the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) to specify Article 7 of the RTVO on the accessible preparation of SRG television broadcasts.