Subtitle it! campaign

The Government responds to our Subtitle it! campaign

In June 2015 Action on Hearing Loss launched the Subtitle it! campaign calling on the Government to take action to improve subtitles on ‘video-on-demand’ services – such as catch up TV and on-demand box sets. Over 3000 people – including many supporters from UKCOD membership organisations – took action to tell Culture Minister Ed Vaizey to prioritise this issue, and the Government confirmed that it would carry out a review.

The Government has now carried out its review, and this week they shared their decision with us. Unfortunately it isn’t the news we were hoping for.

Minster Ed Vaizey has written to Action on Hearing Loss confirming that he has decided not to legislate or take any substantial action to improve access to subtitles. He feels that enough progress is already being made by broadcasters and platform operators voluntarily, and that legislation would be detrimental to progress.

We do not agree that there has been sufficient progress, and we are very disappointed at the Government’s refusal to take action to end the digital exclusion faced by hearing loss.  

Do you agree with Ed Vaizey’s decision? Action on Hearing Loss is asking campaign supporters to

For more information please contact Johanna Taylor, Senior Campaigner.