RNIB’s top 10 accessible media moments of 2025

For the first time, all three nights of the Eurovision Song Contest were broadcast with live audio description on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The BBC also trialled live AD for its Glastonbury 2025 coverage, opening up two of the UK’s biggest music events to blind and partially sighted audiences.

ITV, in partnership with Guinness, delivered live audio description for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 and selected matches during the men’s Six Nations Rugby, including high-profile England fixtures.

Channel 4 also provided live AD for the UEFA Men’s Under-21 Championship. Together, these broadcasts gave blind and partially sighted viewers real-time access to match action, commentary and stadium atmosphere.

BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing continued to include live audio description throughout its 2025 series, remaining one of the most established examples of live AD in entertainment.

Channel 4 broadcast its Stand Up To Cancer fundraising event with live audio description, enabling blind and partially sighted audiences to take part in this major national moment alongside other viewers.

The Media Act aims to bring on-demand platforms in line with traditional broadcasters, particularly around accessibility. In 2025, Ofcom consulted widely on which services should be designated as Tier 1 and began preparing the new VOD Code that will eventually mandate access services such as audio description. However, no legal obligations have come into force yet, and accessibility remains voluntary for streaming platforms for now. Clearer designations and the first enforceable changes are expected to arrive in 2026, as Ofcom finalises the new code and supporting regulations. For blind and partially sighted audiences, the focus remains on ensuring regulation translates into real-world impact.

The RNIB 2025 Media Accessibility Symposium brought together broadcasters, streaming platforms, technology companies, access service providers and audio description users to discuss persistent challenges and emerging solutions. Key topics included shifting accessibility earlier in production, audio description quality, platform design and short-form content. Following the event, RNIB shared an action framework and key insights with industry partners and other stakeholders to help shape priorities and collaborative work into 2026.

A recurring issue raised throughout the discussions was the lack of consistency when programmes move between platforms, with audio description not reliably travelling with content. This means the same programme may be accessible on one service but not another.

RNIB’s research into AI-generated audio description demonstrated that off-the-shelf models show potential, particularly for factual content. However, the findings also highlighted accuracy and consistency issues that currently limit real-world use without human oversight. Further testing is planned for 2026, focusing on prompt design and the suitability of AI tools for different content formats.

RNIB also published a study exploring the use of synthetic speech for audio description, testing how synthetic voices compare with human narration in terms of clarity, emotional engagement and viewer experience.

In 2025, Sky expanded audio description across its on-demand catalogue, covering both new releases and selected back-catalogue titles. Films described during the year included Anora, Despicable Me 4, Venom: The Last Dance, Wicked among others. Sky has confirmed that additional films and series will continue to be added as new episodes are released.

Discovery, now, remains one of the few UK platforms yet to provide consistent on-demand audio description.

Birmingham Hippodrome launched a new audio description system using pocket receivers, induction loops and Bluetooth-enabled devices. This allows audiences to use wireless headphones, earbuds or their own hearing aids, enabling greater freedom in where people sit while still accessing AD. The development highlights how accessibility improvements extend beyond broadcast and streaming into live cultural venues.

9. Short-form content remains a major accessibility gap

Short-form content, particularly television advertising, remained a significant accessibility gap in 2025. Advertising often relies heavily on visuals, fast pacing and on-screen text, with limited consideration of how blind and partially sighted audiences access key information. Through industry presentations and discussions, RNIB highlighted these gaps and practical ways to design more accessible advertising from the outset. RNIB also continued its involvement in the Ad Accessibility Network, a cross-industry initiative led by ISBA, working to bring more brands and agencies on board and embed accessibility earlier in advertising production. Currys’ “Sigh of Relief” campaign was frequently referenced as an example of best practice.

Throughout 2025, viewers continued to report problems with on-screen text that is difficult to read or not read aloud, including poor colour contrast, small fonts, fast-moving captions and text placed over busy backgrounds. These issues were evident across broadcast TV and increasingly on social media and short-form video platforms. Addressing on-screen design earlier in the production process has emerged as a key focus for 2026.