Television for the visually and hearing-impaired

The revised Radio and Television Act (RTVA) places SRG SSR idée suisse under new statutory obligations with regard to the presentation of television programmes for the visually and hearing-impaired. This prompted SRG SSR to draw up an agreement with organisations representing the interests of disabled people (see links in right-hand column), in order to satisfy these new legal requirements as quickly as possible and, in doing so, to aid the integration of the visually and hearing impaired. This mission will be supported by the use of subtitles, sign language and audio description.

Subtitles: From 2010, subtitling will be provided for all prime-time programmes, i.e. those broadcast between 7 and 10 p.m., as well as all live events between midday and midnight on all SRG SSR channels. In addition, extensive coverage of live events on all channels will be ensured. The plan is to increase the percentage of programmes with subtitles on an ongoing basis. A third of all programmes are to be subtitled in each language region by the end of 2010.

Sign language: SF, TSR and RSI have been providing a daily signed edition of the news pro­gramme “Tagesschau” since January 2008.

Audio description: Audio description, a kind of running commentary for films, allows the visually impaired to follow the story. SRG SSR is broadcasting an increasing number of films with audio description in each language region. It plans to have as many as 24 films per region in 2010.