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: there are plans gradually to increase the percentage of subtitled programmes so that, in three years' time, one-third of all broadcasts will be more accessible to the hearing impaired.

Sign language: Schweizer Fernsehen, Radio Télévision Suisse and Televisione svizzera di lingua italiana have all provided a signed edition of their main daily news bulletins since January 2008.

Audio description: audio description refers to a running commentary of what is happening in a film, for example, so that the visually impaired can more easily follow events on screen. It is planned that each language region will offer 12 films with audio description from 2008, and 24 from 2009 onwards.

These changes cannot be made without additional cost or specialist staff. In 2008, seven million Swiss francs will be set aside for television for the visually and hearing impaired, with the figure rising to twelve million francs by 2010.