‘EPG’ stands for Electronic Programme Guide, sometimes referred to as a ‘TV guide’. It's an onscreen menu that tells users what TV programmes are available on their television and allows them to navigate to different channels and programmes.
EPG providers are required to produce an annual statement of the steps they have taken and plan to take to facilitate the use of their EPGs by disabled people. The EPG Code sets out practices they should follow.
We report here on EPG accessibility as at 30 November 2023, summarising the extent to which EPG providers offered the accessibility features set out in the EPG Code: ‘text to speech’ functionality; highlighting or filtering of content with audio description or signing; text magnification; and high-contrast displays. For more detail (including on accessibility features beyond those required by the Code), see the individual reports submitted by EPG providers (links below).
- Both Freeview (provided by Everyone TV) and Virgin Media continued to offer all the required accessibility features. All Freeview Play devices now offer some version of the ‘Accessible TV Guide’ (available via channel 555) and the proportion of these including text to speech (TTS) has increased to 75%.
- Sky continued to offer three of the features, with the launch of the fourth – magnification – planned for 2024.
- Freesat (acquired by Everyone TV – formerly Digital UK – in 2021) lags behind Freeview, with accessibility currently reliant on devices’ existing accessibility functions. Devices offered only two of the features (filtering/highlighting and high-contrast displays) but Everyone TV plans to implement software updates to Freesat G3 set-top boxes which will introduce additional accessibility capabilities.
- At the reporting date, YouView had made no progress in moving beyond the two accessibility features (magnification and high-contrast displays) previously offered. However, since the end of the reporting period, YouView has launched the EETV app with BT for Apple TV, with its navigation guide supporting Apple’s text-to-speech capability. YouView acknowledges the potential consumer benefits of highlighting/filtering and continues to explore the technical and commercial feasibility of rolling out this functionality to the most recent YouView set top box models.
We welcome the ongoing steps being taken by providers to make their EPGs more accessible. After amendments to the EPG Code in 2018, we would now expect all providers – as set out in the EPG Code – to be using reasonable endeavours to secure so far as practicable that their EPGs include all four accessibility features. In future reporting, if any of these features are not available, we expect providers’ statements to explain how they have used reasonable endeavours and why this has not been practicable.
We welcome measures taken by some providers to introduce accessibility features in relation to services not currently covered by the EPG Code (for example Freely, Sky Glass, Virgin Media Stream) and to drive awareness of accessibility features (for example Everyone TV’s campaign to raise the profile of the Freeview Accessible TV Guide).
While regulated EPGs remain a key tool for viewing audiences, they are no longer the only way in which audiences discover, navigate and access television. Government is considering updating which EPGs are regulated in the UK and the Media Bill currently passing through Parliament contains accessibility requirements in relation to certain connected TV interfaces giving access to on-demand television apps. We will work with Government to ensure that disabled people are able to navigate to and access content whatever route they choose.
‘EPG’ stands for Electronic Programme Guide, sometimes referred to as a ‘TV guide’. It's an onscreen menu that tells users what TV programmes are available on their television and allows them to navigate to different channels and programmes.
EPG providers are required to produce an annual statement of the steps they have taken and plan to take to facilitate the use of their EPGs by disabled people. The EPG Code sets out practices they should follow..
We report here on EPG accessibility as at 30 November 2023, summarising the extent to which EPG providers offered the accessibility features set out in the EPG Code: ‘text to speech’ functionality; highlighting or filtering of content with audio description or signing; text magnification; and high-contrast displays. For more detail (including on accessibility features beyond those required by the Code), see the individual reports submitted by EPG providers (links below).
- Both Freeview (provided by Everyone TV) and Virgin Media continued to offer all the required accessibility features. All Freeview Play devices now offer some version of the ‘Accessible TV Guide’ (available via channel 555) and the proportion of these including text to speech (TTS) has increased to 75%.
- Sky continued to offer three of the features, with the launch of the fourth – magnification – planned for 2024.
- Freesat (acquired by Everyone TV – formerly Digital UK – in 2021) lags behind Freeview, with accessibility currently reliant on devices’ existing accessibility functions. Devices offered only two of the features (filtering/highlighting and high-contrast displays) but Everyone TV plans to implement software updates to Freesat G3 set-top boxes which will introduce additional accessibility capabilities.
- At the reporting date, YouView had made no progress in moving beyond the two accessibility features (magnification and high-contrast displays) previously offered. However, since the end of the reporting period, YouView has launched the EETV app with BT for Apple TV, with its navigation guide supporting Apple’s text-to-speech capability. YouView acknowledges the potential consumer benefits of highlighting/filtering and continues to explore the technical and commercial feasibility of rolling out this functionality to the most recent YouView set top box models.
We welcome the ongoing steps being taken by providers to make their EPGs more accessible. After amendments to the EPG Code in 2018, we would now expect all providers – as set out in the EPG Code – to be using reasonable endeavours to secure so far as practicable that their EPGs include all four accessibility features. In future reporting, if any of these features are not available, we expect providers’ statements to explain how they have used reasonable endeavours and why this has not been practicable.
We welcome measures taken by some providers to introduce accessibility features in relation to services not currently covered by the EPG Code (for example Freely, Sky Glass, Virgin Media Stream) and to drive awareness of accessibility features (for example Everyone TV’s campaign to raise the profile of the Freeview Accessible TV Guide).
While regulated EPGs remain a key tool for viewing audiences, they are no longer the only way in which audiences discover, navigate and access television. Government is considering updating which EPGs are regulated in the UK and the Media Bill currently passing through Parliament contains accessibility requirements in relation to certain connected TV interfaces giving access to on-demand television apps. We will work with Government to ensure that disabled people are able to navigate to and access content whatever route they choose.
EPG provider annual statements
People with visual impairments watch as much TV as others but are confronted with particular difficulties when using TV programme guides (known as electronic programme guides or ‘EPGs’) to find and view programmes.
The EPG Code (PDF, 233.7 KB) sets out Ofcom’s expectation that EPGs should feature magnification, high contrast displays, filtering or highlighting of accessible programmes, and ‘text to speech’ functionality so that they can be used by disabled people.
In our 2023 EPG Accessibility Report we review the progress made by EPG providers in offering these accessibility features. We also consider how audience behaviour is changing in light of new television services and highlight the continued importance of accessible service design.
EPG Accessibility report 2022 - 2023 (PDF, 340.3 KB)
Adroddiad ar Hygyrchedd Amserlenni Rhaglenni Electronig (EPG) 2022 - 2023 - Trosolwg (PDF, 164.9 KB)
Ofcom VoD Survey 2023 - data tables (XLSX, 35.3 MB)
Responses
People with visual impairments watch as much TV as others but are confronted with particular difficulties when using TV programme guides (known as electronic programme guides or ‘EPGs’) to find and view programmes.
The EPG Code (PDF, 233.7 KB) sets out Ofcom’s expectation that EPGs should feature magnification, high contrast displays, filtering or highlighting of accessible programmes, and ‘text to speech’ functionality so that they can be used by disabled people.
This is our fourth annual report since amendments to the EPG Code in 2018. We have previously acknowledged that it takes time to implement the changes required. However, we now expect EPG providers either to have implemented the required features or to have clear plans in place to do so, where practicable.
We are grateful to RNIB for establishing a focus group this year which allowed us to engage with users of these features and better understand how they are working for consumers in practice, across a range of devices used to access the EPG (e.g. connected TVs or set-top boxes).
Summary of progress
- All providers now offer high contrast displays. Highlighting of accessible content is widely available but remains to be applied by YouView.
- Only Digital UK provides filtering for broadcast content, a feature which is highly valued by users with sight impairment seeking audio-described programmes.
- There has been some progress on implementing text to speech (‘TTS’) functionality, otherwise known as ‘speaking EPGs’. Sky now provides TTS across all Sky Q boxes, and Digital UK offers an innovative solution using a separate EPG accessed via Channel 555 on nearly all Freeview Play devices. Other providers use the separate functionality of mobile operating systems, some smart TVs (Freesat) or integration with digital assistants such as Amazon Alexa (YouView), which do not yet offer functionality equivalent to TTS.
EPG providers should:
- include more detailed evidence in their reporting on how they have made ‘reasonable endeavours’ to put into operation the required accessibility features
- focus on implementing filtering and TTS functionality
- engage with user groups
Ofcom will:
- continue to ask EPG providers voluntarily to provide information about additional measures they have taken to improve ease of access across their user interface
- instigate roundtable discussion to promote collaboration and best practice sharing both between EPG providers and between them and their manufacturing partners.
EPG Accessibility report 2022 (PDF, 409.5 KB)
Adroddiad ar Ganllawiau Rhaglenni Electronig 2022 - Trosolwg (PDF, 162.3 KB)
Responses
People with visual impairments watch as much TV as other people but are confronted with particular difficulties when using TV programme guides (known as electronic programme guides or ‘EPGs’) to choose what they watch. As a result, their viewing choices can be unnecessarily restricted, and they could miss out on finding and viewing programmes.
The EPG code (PDF, 233.7 KB) (drawn up under subsection 310(3) of Communications Act 2003) sets out the practices to be followed by EPG providers so that EPGs can be used by people with disabilities.
In June 2018 following consultation (PDF, 597.5 KB), we made amendments to the EPG Code (PDF, 652.8 KB) to secure that people with visual impairments are able to use EPGs in the same way that people without such disabilities use them. EPG providers now have to use reasonable endeavours, where practicable, to provide specific features (magnification, high-contrast displays, filtering/highlighting of accessible programmes, and ‘text to speech’ functionality).
This is our third annual report since the amendments to the EPG Code in 2018.
EPG Accessibility report 2021 (PDF, 405.5 KB)
Responses
- BT
- Digital UK
- Freesat
- Sky
- STV
- Virgin
- Youview
People with visual impairments watch as much TV as other people but are confronted with particular difficulties when using TV programme guides (otherwise known as electronic programme guides or EPGs) to choose what they watch. As a result, their viewing choices can be unnecessarily restricted, and they could miss out on finding and viewing programmes.
The EPG code (PDF, 233.7 KB) (drawn up under the Communications Act 2003) sets out the practices to be followed by EPG providers concerning the features and information needed to enable EPGs to be used by people with disabilities.
In June 2018 following consultation (PDF, 597.5 KB), we made amendments to the EPG Code (PDF, 652.8 KB) to secure that people with visual impairments are able to use EPGs in the same way that people without such disabilities use them.
This is our second annual report following the changes but the first encompassing a full year reporting period.
EPG Accessibility report 2020 (PDF, 279.8 KB)
We’ve also worked with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to create a video where people with sight impairments share their experiences of watching TV and reveal why EPG accessibility features are so important.
Responses
People with visual impairments watch about as much TV as other people but face particular difficulties in using on-screen TV programme guides (otherwise known as electronic programme guides or EPGs) to plan their viewing.
As a result, the choice of viewing for people with visual impairments can be unnecessarily restricted, and they may miss out on the opportunities to see the programmes most people take for granted.
The Communications Act (2003) requires that Ofcom’s EPG code obliges EPG providers to incorporate such features in their EPGs as are appropriate to enable, so far as practicable, people with disabilities affecting their sight or hearing to use the EPGs for the same purposes as people without such disabilities.
This is our first annual report following revisions made to the EPG Code in June 2018.
EPG Accessibility report 2019 (PDF, 256.7 KB)
EPG Accessibility report 2019 Rich Text Format (RTF, 991.1 KB)