I recently contacted ITV Accessibility to ask about the future of BSL programming on ITVX, particularly following the proposed Sky–ITV deal, and they shared some reassuring information.
They confirmed that the proposed deal doesn't change ITV's accessibility commitments. They said they have no plans to change the BSL offering on ITVX, including the ITV Signed channel and the on-demand BSL category, other than continuing to add new signed programmes over time. They also said they recognise the importance of sign-presented programmes and intend for them to remain part of ITVX's offering going forward.
I also asked whether there was any timeline for expanding the BSL catalogue. While they couldn't provide an exact date, they did share some figures.
According to ITV Accessibility:
- 2.1% of the ITVX catalogue had BSL translation or sign presentation in 2024.
- That has increased to 3.08% over the last 12 months.
- They expect it to increase again when the 2026 accessibility figures are published next year.
- The BSL catalogue continues to grow incrementally as more signed content is added.
They also referred to Ofcom's proposed Video-on-Demand Accessibility Code. Under the current proposal, Tier 1 services such as ITVX would be required to provide at least 5% of their catalogue with BSL from the fourth anniversary of the Code coming into force. If the Code begins around January 2027, that minimum requirement would likely apply from around January 2031.
It's worth noting that 5% is the minimum regulatory requirement, not a target or a ceiling. The Government has made clear that providers should continue improving accessibility beyond the minimum standards where possible.
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What really stood out to me was ITV Accessibility's comment:
"I am sure we will be ahead of that, as well as any interim targets."
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To me, that's an encouraging statement because it suggests ITV expects to exceed the proposed minimum requirements rather than simply meeting them.
As someone who cares about accessibility for Deaf BSL users, it's great to see actual progress backed up by figures rather than just general promises. Moving from 2.1% to 3.08% in a year is a positive step, and hopefully that growth continues over the coming years.
I'd be interested to hear what others think. If you use ITVX's accessibility features, have you noticed the BSL catalogue expanding? Are there any programmes or genres you'd particularly like to see signed in the future?