RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

Television is a vital source of entertainment and information, used by almost everybody in society.

Woman in front of monitors

For deaf and hard of hearing people, subtitles are essential for TV to be enjoyed to the full. Our research shows that one million people rely on subtitles while a further four million use them regularly.

Since the development of subtitles in the early 1980s, we, along with other organisations, have campaigned extensively for increases in subtitling, and for more promotion and easier access to this service. In recent years we've lobbied Ofcom, the government regulator, to make sure that more TV than ever before is accessible to deaf people.

Campaign results

Thanks to our campaign, and the support of thousands of our members, Ofcom now require 84 television channels to subtitle some of their programmes (external link, opens new browser window). These account for around 90% of audience share. The major TV channels already have to subtitle 80% of their output and the BBC now subtitles 100% of programmes across seven main channels (external link, opens new browser window).

But more needs to be done to ensure access to television for deaf people. We would like to see more channels having to provide subtitles and for the targets to be far more demanding. 

What can you do?

You can get involved in the campaign by contacting the TV channels and the people who commission subtitles to tell them what you think. 

Find out who to contact to comment or complain about TV subtitles.

MPs celebrated Deaf Awareness Week 2008 by supporting a motion in Parliament calling for 100% subtitling on all the main TV channels. Tell your MP why this is so important and ask them to support the motion.

Take action! Use our standard letter to ask your MP to support the parliamentary motion calling for 100% subtitling across main TV channels.

DVD subtitles

We're also working to make sure that more DVDs include subtitles. Although the most popular DVDs now have them some still have none, and often the 'extras' that accompany films are not subtitled. We are also campaigning to ensure that the free DVDs given away by newspapers are subtitled.  You can find out which DVDs have subtitles (external link, opens new browser window).