Disability Act 2005

PART 7

Miscellaneous

Amendment of section 19 of Broadcasting Act 2001.

53.— Section 19 of the Broadcasting Act 2001 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (11):

“(11) (a) The Commission shall make rules requiring each broadcaster to take specified steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment by—

(i) persons who are deaf or have a hearing impairment, and

(ii) persons who are blind or partially sighted,

of programmes transmitted on any broadcasting service provided by him or her.

 (b) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), rules under this subsection shall—

(i) require each broadcaster of audio-visual material to take specified steps to provide access to that material by persons who are deaf or have a hearing impairment and persons who are blind or partially sighted by means of specified services such as—

(I) sign language,

(II) teletext services,

(III) subtitling, and

(IV) audio description,

and

(ii) have regard to whether the aforementioned material is being provided—

(I) daily or at other regular intervals,

(II) at popular viewing times as well as at other times, and

(III) for news and news-related matters as well as for other matters.”.