Ensuring that everyone can access and enjoy media content isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025 is set to enable the European audiovisual landscape by mandating that closed captions and subtitles be integrated into television broadcasts and streaming services. This piece of legislation reflects Europe’s commitment to inclusivity, drawing on internationally recognised standards and human rights frameworks to break down barriers for all users.
Understanding the European Accessibility Directive 2016 and the European Accessibility Act 2025
The European Accessibility Directive is part of the European Union’s broader commitment to creating a more inclusive digital environment. The EU Directive 2016/2102 required public sector websites and apps to offer accessible information and provide media alternatives for audio and video content. These standards ensure that individuals with disabilities—such as visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments—can access, understand, and interact with digital content on par with everyone else.
Next up is the EU's approach to widening this across the market:
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025 will mandate that all audiovisual media—including television broadcasts and streaming services—integrate closed captions and subtitles.
The EAA 2025 is a comprehensive regulation designed to standardise accessibility across audiovisual media. Unlike previous directives that covered a broad range of digital content, the EAA specifically targets audiovisual media, ensuring that both traditional television and modern streaming services offer content that everyone can understand and enjoy.
Key features of the EAA 2025
- Mandatory closed captions and subtitles: All audiovisual content must include accurate and synchronised captions or subtitles, ensuring that viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing—and those who benefit from text-based support—can fully engage with the content.
- Uniform standards across media platforms: Whether it’s a live television broadcast or an on-demand streaming service, the EAA requires that accessibility measures are consistently applied, providing a seamless experience for all users.
- Enhanced user experience: Beyond compliance, the Act improves content accessibility, assisting language learners, viewers in noisy environments, and individuals with cognitive disabilities to better understand and enjoy media.
The foundations: UNCRPD and WCAG
The EAA 2025 is not an isolated legislative effort—it is firmly rooted in international standards and human rights principles. Two key frameworks form the backbone of this transformative Act:
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
- A human rights-based approach: The UNCRPD underlines the right of persons with disabilities to access information and fully participate in society. By aligning with the UNCRPD, the EAA ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities to consume audiovisual content.
- Empowerment through inclusion: The Act reinforces the idea that media accessibility is a fundamental right, empowering people with disabilities and fostering a more inclusive society.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
- International best practices: WCAG provides a detailed set of guidelines to make digital content more accessible. These guidelines help ensure that the technical aspects of captions and subtitles are implemented effectively.
- Quality and consistency: By adhering to WCAG, content creators are encouraged to maintain high standards of accessibility, ensuring that captions are not only present but also accurate and user-friendly.
Why captions and subtitles matter
The integration of closed captions and subtitles goes beyond mere regulatory compliance—it transforms the viewing experience for millions. Here’s why they are so critical:
1. Empowering those with hearing impairments
For individuals with hearing impairments, captions and subtitles are essential. They convert spoken words and important audio cues into text, ensuring that no one misses out on the full narrative of a programme.
2. Enhancing understanding for all viewers
- Language learners: Subtitles provide an invaluable tool for non-native speakers, aiding in language acquisition and comprehension.
- Noisy or distracting environments: In settings where audio quality is compromised—such as public spaces or busy households—captions help maintain clarity.
- Cognitive accessibility: For viewers who process information better visually, captions offer a clearer, more digestible way to consume content.
3. Boosting engagement and reach
Accessible media not only complies with legal standards but also widens your audience. Content that is easier to follow can lead to higher engagement, improved user retention, and overall satisfaction.
How CaptionHub supports EAA 2025 compliance
Navigating the requirements of the EAA 2025 can be challenging, but with the right tools and partners, it is easier than ever to stay compliant. At CaptionHub, we specialise in delivering state-of-the-art captioning solutions that align with the rigorous standards of the EAA.
As a true hub for accessibility technology, we connect enterprises to the best innovations—whether it’s AI-driven automation, advanced speech recognition, or emerging tools that enhance digital accessibility. We’re constantly pursuing and integrating the latest technology to ensure our platform remains at the forefront. That means when you work with CaptionHub, you can be confident that your workflows will always benefit from the most advanced solutions available.
Our key offerings
- Automated and manual captioning solutions: By combining advanced AI with optional post-editing tooling, ensure that your captions and subtitles are both accurate and contextually appropriate.
- Seamless integration: Our platform works effortlessly with various content management systems, streamlining the process of adding captions to your media.
- Multilingual support: In today’s global market, offering subtitles in multiple languages helps extend your reach and ensures that your content is accessible to a diverse audience.
By choosing CaptionHub, you’re not only meeting the legal mandates of the EAA 2025—you’re actively contributing to a more inclusive digital future.
The EAA focuses on functionally meeting the needs of people with disabilities it doesn’t provide specific technical standards for accessibility, and the the voluntary harmonized EU standard EN 301 549 will be used as the presumptive standard of conformity. This means that if you want to show that your assets meet EAA compliance requirements, they likely need to conform with EN 301 549.
EN 301 549 defines technical requirements and currently includes the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. However, the standard is slated to be updated as part of supporting the implementation of the EAA and is in the process of being updated to include WCAG 2.2. Because WCAG is an established framework for assessing digital accessibility in the EU, conforming to these criteria at an “AA” level (which includes A and AA criteria) is the best way for organizations to start ensuring they comply with the EAA. Additionally, EN 301 549 has other requirements for certain types of web content, software (such as mobile apps), and hardware that may apply.
To learn more about WCAG 2.2, and to understand how well your digital products meet its criteria, request our WCAG Checklist.
Exemptions
According to the European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025, companies considered "microenterprises" are generally exempt, meaning businesses with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover below €2 million are not required to fully comply with the act's accessibility requirements
Conclusion
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of audiovisual media. By mandating the integration of closed captions and subtitles across television and streaming services, the Act champions the rights of individuals with disabilities and reinforces the principles laid out in the UNCRPD and WCAG. This is not merely about ticking regulatory boxes—it is about transforming how we experience media and ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can access, understand, and enjoy the content they love.
At CaptionHub, we are proud to support this vision of inclusivity. With our advanced captioning solutions, you can seamlessly align with the EAA 2025 requirements while enhancing your audience’s viewing experience. Embrace the future of accessible media—invest in robust captioning solutions and help pave the way for a more inclusive digital landscape.
Key Accessibility Requirements
1. Captions and Subtitles
- All audiovisual content, including television broadcasts and streaming services, must include closed captions and subtitles to ensure accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
- Captions must be synchronised, accurate, and clearly legible across all devices.
- The standard applies to both live and pre-recorded content.
2. Sign Language Interpretation
- Platforms delivering public-facing audiovisual content may be required to provide sign language interpretation where appropriate.
- Video communication services must support speaker identification for sign language users to enhance usability (ETSI EN 301 549, §6.5.6).
3. Voiceover and Audio Description
- Spoken subtitles (audio captions) must be available for individuals with visual impairments (ETSI EN 301 549, §7.1.5).
- Audio descriptions should be synchronised with video content and preserve accessibility during any format conversions (ETSI EN 301 549, §7.2.1–7.2.3).
4. User Controls for Accessibility Features
- Users must have the ability to enable or customise captions, subtitles, and audio descriptions through standardised controls (ETSI EN 301 549, §7.3)
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The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025 introduces mandatory accessibility requirements for digital products and services across the EU. This includes specific provisions for captioning, sign language interpretation, subtitles, and voiceover in audiovisual media. Ensuring compliance with these standards will be essential for our operations and content distribution moving forward.
- The European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into force on June 28, 2025. This means that all EU member states must begin applying the accessibility measures outlined in the Act by this date.
- The UK does not need to comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) directly, but businesses based in the UK that sell products or services in the EU do need to comply (UK public companies do comply with this as they align with earlier European standards post Brexit
- Companies under €2M Euros revenue are exempt
- The Act doesn’t provide a technical specification – the EU has agreed to harmonise it to European standard ETSI EN 301 549 (below)
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