OTT to turn user friendly for differently abled

Excerpt: India's major streaming platforms, including Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, Voot, and SonyLIV, are working to make their services more accessible for people with disabilities. They are adding features like subtitles, closed captioning, and text control options to improve user-friendliness. However, challenges remain, especially with live content and archived material. The Indian Digital Media Industry Foundation (IDMIF) is leading this effort, and they have proposed a gradual approach to implementing these accessibility standards to ensure industry-wide inclusivity. This is an important step towards recognizing the needs of differently-abled individuals.

Streaming services in India are taking steps to make their platforms more user-friendly for differently-abled individuals. The Indian Digital Media Industry Foundation (IDMIF), which includes major players like Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, Voot, and SonyLIV, is working to ensure accessibility for all users. This initiative falls under the Digital Media Content Regulatory Council (DMCRC) and is a significant move toward inclusivity and diversity.

Efforts by IDMIF involve adding subtitles to most content and providing closed captioning that describes both dialogue and sounds. Additionally, these platforms are introducing text control features that allow users to resize text on mobile apps to cater to various visual needs.

However, there are challenges to consider, particularly when it comes to live content and archived or licensed material due to technological and rights-related limitations.

IDMIF has suggested a reasonable timeline for implementing these accessibility standards, setting phased targets. This approach aims to facilitate gradual adaptation by the industry, considering the limited availability of service providers for accessibility features.

In conclusion, these efforts represent a positive step toward ensuring inclusivity in the world of OTT content. While challenges exist, recognizing the importance of inclusivity and taking action is essential rather than merely discussing the rights and conditions of differently-abled individuals.