Channel 4 is promising to broadcast to deliver more content with access services following last year’s outage brought about by the fire at Red Bee Media’s broadcast centre.
Ofcom is currently investigating the incident which left the broadcaster without access services across its broadcast channels from 25th September until 19th November.
Channel 4 has now said it is reaffirming its commitment to access services and intends to both “over-deliver” on the existing regulatory quotas and surpass the commitments of other UK broadcasters.
During 2022 the broadcaster said it will
- Return to 100 per cent subtitles across all linear channels;
- Commit to achieve 100 per cent subtitles on All 4 by the end of 2022;
- Increase signing from 5 per cent to 10 per cent on Channel 4 and E4;
- Increase Audio Description to 45 per cent on all its linear channels;
- Increase the number of signed and audio described box-sets on All 4.
Channel 4 intends to kick-off its commitment with the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, promising to broadcast 86 hours of content with access services included.
Subtitles will be available for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games, its live sports coverage as well as the daily breakfast and highlights shows, said Channel. The highlights programmes will also be available to watch on More 4 with audio description and BSL provision, and all programmes will also be available to watch on All 4.
“Channel 4 has always delivered a greater range of programmes with access services provision than required by regulation,” commented Jonathan Allan. chief operating officer, Channel 4.
“While Channel 4 did exceed the regulatory targets set by Ofcom, we would like to apologise once again to everyone who was affected by the severe technology incident at the end of last year that affected our services. This year not only will every programme on our linear channels and All 4 be subtitled, but we are increasing the number of programmes that are audio described and have BSL provision.”
