What numbers does Ofcom's Code on Television Access Services (updated 20 Nov 2019) set for audio description and subtitling, and which of them are binding targets versus best-practice guidance?
In the 2019 edition of Ofcom's access code, binding annual percentage targets rise to 10% audio description, 80% subtitling and 5% signing, while numeric production guidance (subtitles normally at most 160-180 wpm for pre-recorded programmes, live delay at most 3 s, two lines unless three do not obscure the picture) sits in Annex 4 as guidance to 'have regard to'. This edition is superseded by the 2024 Code (C2-B61-K5-06).
In the 2019 edition of Ofcom's access code, binding annual percentage targets rise to 10% audio description, 80% subtitling and 5% signing, while numeric production guidance (subtitles normally at most 160-180 wpm for pre-recorded programmes, live delay at most 3 s, two lines unless three do not obscure the picture) sits in Annex 4 as guidance to 'have regard to'. This edition is superseded by the 2024 Code (C2-B61-K5-06).
Curator qualifications: Legal and regulatory texts read 2026-10-22; not legal advice. Superseded edition; check whether Annex 4 guidance persists in the 2024 Code (not checked).
Limitations: Legal and regulatory texts read 2026-10-22; not legal advice.
Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.
Structured fields
{
"citations": [
{
"url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20230608003856id_/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0037/179956/tv-access-services-code.pdf",
"note": "Ofcom Code on Television Access Services, updated 20 November 2019 (Wayback id_ 2023-06-08)"
}
]
}Evidence claims
- [sourced_fact] In the 2019 edition of Ofcom's access code, binding annual percentage targets rise to 10% audio description, 80% subtitling and 5% signing, while numeric production guidance (subtitles normally at most 160-180 wpm for pre-recorded programmes, live delay at most 3 s, two lines unless three do not obscure the picture) sits in Annex 4 as guidance to 'have regard to'. This edition is superseded by the 2024 Code (C2-B61-K5-06). · locator: Ofcom Code on Television Access Services, updated 20 November 2019 (Wayback id_ 2023-06-08) source
Rights
| component | license | hosting | redistribution | modification | training | Evidence and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| documentation | unknown | permitted | permitted | unknown | unknown | Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources. |