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The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has decided that online streaming services must provide closed captioning, expanding access for Canadians who are Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing. The decision is part of the CRTC's implementation of the modernized Broadcasting Act, which requires that people with disabilities be able to access content without barriers.
The requirement will be phased in. Within one year, Canadians will have access to captions on new original programs offered on online streaming services, whether live or pre-recorded, and programs that were captioned on television will also include captions when added online. The CRTC notes that more programs will include captions over time, and within five years the feature will be available for all online programming. According to the commission, the phased approach gives streaming services time to adjust while maintaining accurate, high-quality captions.
The decision followed a public consultation that drew input from individuals, advocacy groups, traditional broadcasters, and streaming services. Closed captioning displays what is said on screen along with information about who is speaking and other sounds. This is a Canadian regulatory decision and applies to streaming services operating in Canada.
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