‘On-demand’ TV and film services that allow us to catch-up on our favourite programmes without having to rush home are more popular than ever.
But despite there being 7.5 million subtitle users in the UK when Progress on Pause went to print, there was no legislation obliging broadcasters or TV platforms to offer subtitles on on-demand services (unlike traditional or 'linear' TV).
Key findings
- 89% of people with hearing loss rely on subtitles to watch TV at least some of the time, but people using subtitles face a dramatic level of exclusion when they use on-demand television and film services, with 87% of people with hearing loss having started to watch a programme on-demand and finding it had no subtitles.
- Customers with hearing loss place a high level of importance on accessibility when it comes to making decisions about subscribing to services, and nine out of 10 survey respondents thought that the government should regulate to ensure that subtitles are available for on-demand services.
Read more about the success of our Subtitle It! campaign here.
