Analytical note on comparative legislation regarding legal regulation of accessibility of audiovisual media services for persons with disabilities

Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
12 January 2026, 10:00

Abstract. This analytical note presents the results of an analysis of legislative regulation of accessibility of audiovisual media services for persons with visual and hearing disabilities.

It focuses on the regulation of subtitling and audio description quotas in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, approaches to financing content accessibility, and the phased implementation of accessibility requirements for different types of media services in European Union member states (Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Germany, France, Croatia) and the United Kingdom.

Key words: audiovisual media services, audiovisual content, providers, accessibility, quotas, subtitles, audio description.

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12/2025