Understanding BSL Users Experiences of Access Services on TV and VoD platforms

2026-11-03

The main objective for this research is to explore and understand BSL users’ experiences and preferences for access services across VoD and linear TV. In more detail, this includes: • Explore the different types of services currently used, and understand preferences for particular services (i.e. linear TV/ BVoD/ SVoD) o How do these preferences vary and why? E.g. by genre or by viewing preferences • Explore and understand practical experiences of watching programmes with access services, including understanding access to sign-presented or sign-interpreted programming • Explore and understand satisfaction with provision of BSL and other relevant access services across linear TV and VoD, including preferences for sign-presented or sign-interpreted programming o Do audiences have different preferences for sign-presented or sign-interpreted programming? Do these vary by e.g. genre, types of programme, type of service? Are there circumstances in which the relevant audiences prefer subtitles? • Understanding audiences’ expectations for future provision of access services o What would they like to see change? o What could providers do to improve access services? • Explore audiences understanding of the current regulatory landscape around access services on linear TV and VoD services, including understanding of funding arrangements • Explore the relationships between BSL programming and signing more broadly, seeking to understand the impact for audiences on the cultural landscape and BSL community as well as implications for current demand on professional BSL interpreters.

United Kingdom (UK)

2026-08-02