The regulatory regime for subtitles is incoherent and fails to deliver a consistent volume and standard of subtitling for deaf and hard of hearing people. There is not even an obligation on cable or satellite to carry subtitles on BBC or ITV simulcast programmes. The upshot of this is that there is a real danger that the digital revolution in television could pass deaf and hard of hearing people by. The analogue terrestrial channels can accrue their weekly average subtitling targets across the year, whilst the digital terrestrial channels cannot accrue weekly averages. Creating a Level Playing Field in Subtitling Regulation RNID recently consulted broadcasters, subtitling companies and other deaf organisations on how best to increase levels of subtitling in a multi-channel environment.
Responses demonstrate that broadcasters favour legal rather than voluntary regulation of subtitling.
Regulation should be equitable and platform-neutral. Where channels compete they should have an equal burden of regulation. Any reform of telecommunications and broadcasting should include regulation of the Internet since services such as Web TV will increasingly compete with digital TV services. Any regulatory framework should be able to adapt to the rapidly changing nature of communications. Otherwise the legislation may be obsolete before the ink is dry.