Insights Ofcom publishes first annual report on improvements to election programme guides (EPGs) for people with visual impairments

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This is Ofcom’s first report since publishing the revisions to its EPG Code. It therefore only covers a short reporting period of five months. However, Ofcom says that overall it is “encouraged by the response of EPG providers”.

Ofcom says that providers appear to be considering accessibility features and the needs of visually impaired people in their planning. However, Ofcom says that it wants to remind providers that their annual reports should, wherever possible, give detailed plans about future developments, as this information is important to viewers.

Ofcom has also published its full-year 2018 report on the accessibility of broadcast and on-demand services, which sets out the proportion of these services that offer subtitles, audio description or signing for people with visual or hearing impairments. The report also details which platforms provide accessible on-demand services, enabling people to find content that meets their needs. To access the report on EPGs, click here. To access the accessibility report, click here.