Report on the accessibility of audiovisual and digital content to people with disabilities and on the representation of people with disabilities in programs - Fiscal year 2023

Published on 15 November 2024

Disability
Social cohesion

Television
Radio

Summary

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In 2023, Arcom monitored TV channels' and digital services' compliance with their obligations to make TV programs and digital content accessible to people with disabilities, and to represent disability on air.

Introduction

The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication (Arcom) has a two-fold mission in the field of disability: making content accessible to people with disabilities (I) and representing disability in the audiovisual media (II). While the provisions underpinning Arcom's remit were, until 2022, derived exclusively from the law of September 30, 1986 on freedom of communication, its mission in terms of accessibility was strengthened in 2023 with an amendment to the law of February 11, 2005 on equal rights and opportunities, participation and citizenship for people with disabilities. Previously restricted to the audiovisuel field, Arcom's remit in terms of accessibility was extended to digital content.

With regard to the accessibility of audiovisual media services, the legal provisions are set out in articles 28, 33-1, 33-3 and 56-1 of the law of September 30, 1986, which define the applicable scheme for private terrestrial and non-terrestrial television services, on-demand audiovisual media services (SMAD) and services produced by public audiovisual companies, respectively. This scheme is completed by an article 20-6 specifying Arcom's mission in this area. In addition to the quantitative improvement of accessibility, this article entrusts the Authority with the task of improving the quality of accessibility schemes. Finally, it broadens the scope of regulation by making provision for distributors of linear television services and SMADs to report to the Authority.

Withregard to the accessibility of digital content, Arcom's remit stems from the provisions of articles 47-1 and 48 of the February 11, 2005 law on equal rights and opportunities, participation and citizenship for people with disabilities. Its remit covers the accessibility of electronic public communication services (websites, mobile applications, etc.), Ebooks and specialized software.

With regard to the representation of disability in the programs of audiovisual media services, the legal provisions are set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of article 3-1 of the law of September 30, 1986: "The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication [...] ensures that the diversity of French society is represented in the programs of audiovisual communication services, and that this representation is free from prejudice. [...] In particular, it works with audiovisual communication service editors to ensure that programming reflects the diversity of French society, given the nature of their programs. The pursuit of this mission relies, in particular, on a fair representation of people with disabilities, both quantitatively through their presence on air, and qualitatively through the fight agains stereotypes associated with these people. In line with this ambition, and despite the absence of legal provisions in this area, Arcom is working to promote the training and professional integration of people with disabilities in the audiovisual industry, in particular by inviting audiovisual media service editors to make a commitment in this direction.