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Canadian public broadcaster CBC has reaffirmed its commitment to accessibility, emphasizing that creating inclusive media products remains a fundamental priority across its operations.

The corporation, which serves as Canada’s national public broadcaster, stated that it aims to ensure all Canadians, including those with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges, can fully access its programming and digital content.

As part of this ongoing accessibility initiative, CBC confirmed that many of its shows available on CBC Gem, the broadcaster’s streaming platform, now feature Closed Captioning and Described Video options. These features represent essential tools for viewers with hearing and visual impairments, allowing them to experience CBC content more completely.

Closed Captioning provides text versions of dialogue and audio elements for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, while Described Video offers narrated descriptions of important visual elements during natural pauses in dialogue, benefiting those with visual impairments.

This commitment comes amid growing recognition across the media industry of the importance of accessibility features. In recent years, Canadian broadcasters have faced increased regulatory pressure to ensure their content meets accessibility standards, with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) establishing guidelines for both traditional and digital platforms.

Media accessibility experts note that approximately 22 percent of Canadians over the age of 15 live with some form of disability, representing a significant portion of the potential audience. For public broadcasters like CBC, which operate under mandates to serve all citizens, accessibility features are not merely optional enhancements but essential components of their public service mission.

CBC’s streaming platform, CBC Gem, has become an increasingly important distribution channel for the broadcaster as viewing habits continue to shift toward digital consumption. The platform hosts thousands of hours of CBC programming, including current shows, past seasons, and exclusive content.

The broadcaster has also created dedicated resources to support its accessibility initiatives, including an “About CBC Accessibility” information section that details the corporation’s policies and practices. Additionally, CBC maintains an “Accessibility Feedback” mechanism, allowing users to report issues or suggest improvements to its accessibility features.

These efforts align with broader governmental initiatives promoting digital inclusion across Canada. The Accessible Canada Act, which came into force in 2019, aims to create a barrier-free Canada by 2040, with specific provisions addressing accessibility in broadcasting and telecommunications.

Industry observers point out that CBC’s emphasis on accessibility also reflects competitive pressures in the streaming marketplace, where platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ have made significant investments in accessibility features to serve diverse audiences.

For CBC, which operates in both official languages and serves communities across Canada’s vast geography, accessibility represents an extension of its mandate to reflect Canadian identity and connect citizens through shared media experiences.

While the broadcaster has made substantial progress, advocacy groups continue to press for even more comprehensive accessibility measures across all CBC platforms, including radio, television, and digital services. Their recommendations include expanded audio description, sign language interpretation for major news events, and more accessible web design across CBC’s digital properties.

As media consumption habits continue to evolve, CBC’s focus on accessibility demonstrates how public broadcasters are adapting to serve increasingly diverse audience needs while fulfilling their foundational public service mandates in the digital age.