Why Sky’s Accessibility Still Fails Blind Viewers
Description
Sky says it supports accessibility—but is it really doing enough? In this episode, Steven, Shaun, and Elliot expose major issues with Sky’s handling of audio description, especially for blind users relying on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
Steven Scott, Shaun Preece, and guest Elliot dive deep into Sky’s accessibility failures, particularly the lack of audio description (AD) on on-demand content. While Sky’s live TV still includes AD, the hosts argue that Sky Glass and Stream have regressed in accessibility by removing recording capabilities and failing to carry over AD to on-demand titles. They criticize Sky’s token efforts and misleading claims about inclusivity, especially when other platforms like BBC iPlayer and ITVX are doing far more.
The team share personal experiences, including frustrating conversations with Sky’s accessibility team, and discuss how outdated workflows and technical excuses can't justify the exclusion of blind users. They also explore how the blind community might take collective action and why it's vital that AD is prioritized as much as subtitles and signed content.
Keyword
Sky accessibility, audio description on demand, Sky Glass accessibility issues, Sky Stream voice guidance, TV accessibility UK, blind TV viewers, AD on Sky, inclusive media, Sky TV AD problems, ITVX audio description, BBC iPlayer accessibility
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