DVB has released a new set of guidelines to support the implementation of accessibility measures in DVB-I services.
Published as DVB BlueBook A185, thr guidelines set out the mechanisms for signalling accessibility services in DVB-I, enabling better support for features such as subtitles, audio description, and sign language interpretation.
The DVB-I standard is the internet-centric mechanism to signal and discover television services, whether they are delivered over IP networks or broadcast networks. The information is then presented to the TV viewer, typically in an EPG.
A task force within the technical working group on DVB-I has developed an extended accessibility metadata model that covers all types of access currently used in the field.
Content providers can use this model to enrich the signalling of their content. With this accessibility metadata, DVB-I enabled TV devices can personalize the user experience with the type of content the user needs.
The initiative is especially timely given the upcoming enforcement of the European Accessibility Act in June 2025, which mandates accessible access to audiovisual media content. With the new implementation guidelines from DVB, broadcasters, platforms, and device manufacturers have a clear framework to follow in meeting these requirements.
