Compliance with audio-subtitling and subtitling service obligations in audiovisual content
These statistics describe compliance with the obligation to provide audio-subtitling and subtitling for TV programmes in Finland. The data is collected from television broadcasters under Traficom’s supervision once a year. The statistics are produced by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.
Audio description, audio-subtitling or subtitles have to be provided for a certain share of programmes on each channel. The required shares are calculated as shares of the annual volume of programme hours on the channel. From the beginning of 2021, the supervision of and statistics also covers on-demand programme services.
Compliance with audio-subtitling and subtitling service obligations in 2024
Subtitling services in programmes
Providing subtitles for television programmes in Finnish and Swedish is important to enable those with impaired hearing to follow the programmes. In addition to the deaf and hard of hearing, subtitles are useful for other viewers as well, including older people and those learning the language. Subtitles must be provided in the original language of the programme, i.e. in Finnish for Finnish-language programmes and in Swedish for Swedish-language programmes.
When calculating the share of the programmes provided with a subtitling service, the programme hours include all programmes in Finnish and Swedish apart from musical performances and sports programmes via live broadcasts.
For live broadcasts, subtitling service could be provided in connection with repeat broadcasts until the end of 2021. As of the beginning of 2022, the possibility to provide subtitles for repeat broadcasts only applies to regional news. The repeat broadcasts with subtitles must be broadcast at times that are appropriate for audiences within 24 hours after the live broadcast and in the broadcaster’s on-demand programme service as soon as possible after subtitles have been completed.
Audio-subtitling services in programmes
In audio-subtitling services, any text on the screen is heard as synthesised speech. Audio-subtitling makes it easier for those with visual impairments and print disabilities to watch foreign-language television programmes with translated subtitles.
When calculating the share of the programmes provided with an audio-subtitling service, the programme hours include all the programmes that are not in Finnish or Swedish apart from musical performances and sports programmes via live broadcasts.
The obligation to provide audio-subtitling and subtitling services
The obligation to provide audio-subtitling and subtitling services applies to all of Yle’s television channels and the channels MTV3 and Nelonen as well as the same channels in the on-demand services of the companies. Yle must provide audio-subtitling and subtitling services for all of its programme hours covered by the obligation. MTV3 and Nelonen must provide audio-subtitling and subtitling services for 75 per cent of the programme hours covered by the obligation. The share has to be at least 30 per cent of the programme hours in on-demand services.
The audio-subtitling obligation concerns translated foreign-language programmes with subtitles. The subtitling obligation concerns programmes in Finnish or Swedish. Neither of the obligations apply to musical performances or sports programmes provided via live broadcasts.
In TV broadcasts one third of the programme hours included in the shares for which audio-subtitling and subtitling services are required may be implemented in the broadcasters’ on-demand programme services. The same programme hours can not be used to fulfil the obligation both in television and to fulfil the separate 30 per cent obligation in the on-demand service.
For local news live coverage programmes on television, the subtitling service may be provided in connection with repeat broadcasts. Repeat broadcasts with subtitling must be sent at a time that is appropriate for the audience within 24 hours from the live coverage.
Definitions
When calculating the share of the programmes provided with a subtitling service, the programme hours include all programmes in Finnish and Swedish apart from musical performances and sports programmes via live broadcasts.
When calculating the share of the programmes provided with an audio-subtitling service, the programme hours include all the programmes that are not in Finnish or Swedish apart from musical performances and sports programmes via live broadcasts.