Netflix Plans to Expand Audio Descriptions, Subtitling in More Than 10 Additional Languages (EXCLUSIVE)
19.05.2022 - 16:19
/ variety.com
Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorThis year, Global Accessibility Awareness Day falls on May 19. And Netflix is using the occasion to announce major plans to expand the global translations of its audio descriptions and subtitles for customers who are blind, deaf or hard-of-hearing.The streamer will expand audio description (AD), subtitles for the deaf or hard-of-hearing (SDH) and dubbing in more than 10 additional languages throughout the year starting this month — so that more Netflix members with disabilities can experience shows and films made in another country in their local language. That’s not the norm in the entertainment industry at large.Netflix is starting with French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Italian, and expanding from there to Asian languages including Korean and Japanese as well as European local languages.
That will build on Netflix’s work to date to make its global originals catalog available in a broad range of languages no matter where the film or show was locally made. The efforts are led by Heather Dowdy, Netflix’s director of product accessibility. The former Microsoft and Motorola Mobility exec, who has 15 years’ experience in the tech industry, joined the company in August 2021.Netflix already makes a large amount of content available with AD and SDH already.
Looking forward, Dowdy said, “we’re focused on scale — to continue to provide the quality we’re known for but at scale. Our whole goal is about delighting members. It’s about including everyone.”Today, Netflix supports more than 11,000 hours of audio description — which provides additional audio commentary that explains what’s happening on screen for those who are visually impaired — in more than 30 languages.
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