August 31, 2023 Publication of Report of Study Group on Enhancement of Broadcasting for People with Audiovisual Disabilities, etc.

Since November 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has been holding the Study Group on Enhancement of Broadcasting for People with Audiovisual Disabilities, etc. (chaired by OTO Yoshihiro, Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Journalism, Sophia University). The main purpose of the Study Group is to review the Guidelines for Information Accessibility in the Broadcasting Field, established in February 2018, taking into account technological trends and other factors. The Study Group also aims to contribute to the planning and formulating measures to enhance broadcasting for people with audiovisual disabilities, etc. by discussing and examining the acquisition of information by people with audiovisual disabilities, etc. through broadcasting.
Recently, the Study Group compiled a report, and MIC has decided to open the same to the public.

Background

Based on the provisions of Article 4, Paragraph 2 of the Broadcasting Act (Act No. 132 of 1950), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) specifies administrative guidelines that set targets for the dissemination of subtitled broadcasts, commentary broadcasts, and sign language broadcasts (hereafter referred to as “subtitled broadcasts, etc.”), thereby encouraging terrestrial broadcasting service providers, satellite broadcasting service providers, and wire broadcasting service providers to make efforts toward the dissemination of subtitled broadcasts, etc.
From September to December 2009, the Study Group on Broadcasting for People with Audiovisual Disabilities, etc., consisting of experts, organizations for persons with disabilities, broadcasters, and others, was held, and based on the discussions in the said study group, MIC formulated the Guidelines for Information Accessibility in the Broadcasting Field (hereafter referred to as the “Guidelines”) in February 2018. The Guidelines set a target for disseminating subtitle broadcasts by fiscal 2027, but it will be reviewed in approximately five years in light of technological trends and other factors.
Therefore, MIC has held the Study Group on Enhancement of Broadcasting for People with Audiovisual Disabilities, etc. since November 2022, with the main purpose of contributing to the planning and formulation of measures to enhance broadcasting for People with Audiovisual Disabilities, etc., including a review of the Guidelines. The Study Group has been deliberating the current status and issues of broadcasting for persons with audiovisual disabilities, etc., and the future acquisition of information by people with audiovisual disabilities, etc., through broadcasting while taking into account the progress of information and communication technology.
The Study Group recently compiled the report, and MIC has decided to open the same to the public.

* The published material is in Japanese only.