MeAC – Measuring Progress of eAccessibility in Europe

Legislation/regulations

Analogue TV

The national TV Law (Law nº 27/2007, of 30th July) (updating the Law No 32/2003) states that the operator holding the public television service concession is responsible for ensuring that its transmissions can be followed by people with special needs, namely, through subtitling, sign language, audio-description and other techniques deemed appropriate. It also provides that programmes specifically aimed at this audience be transmitted according to a schedule defined in the multi-annual plan by the regulator (Article 51(j)). The law also states that the national media regulator will define a set of obligations for all operators that shall enable people with special needs to follow broadcasts, based on a multi-annual plan and taking into account technical and market conditions (Article 34(3)).

On the 21st August 2003, the public television broadcaster established a protocol with the two private TV broadcasters for the introduction of accessibility in TV programs with a reduction of advertising in the 1st public channel of the TV operator. The protocol was updated on the 15th February 2005. This agreement has resulted in:

• the commitment by the two private TV broadcasters to start broadcasting at least 2.5 hours each week of programs with informative, educational, cultural or entertainment content in sign language, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.
• the commitment by the private TV broadcasters to broadcast not less than 5 hours per week of fiction or documentary programmes with subtitling through teletext
• The national broadcaster should double the minimum performances imposed on private operators

TV access services for people with disabilities in Portugal started as follows:

Subtitling (teletext): started by the public broadcaster on the 15th April 1999 and by private broadcasters in 2003.

PSL (Portuguese Signal Language): At first only on the 2nd channel of the public broadcaster. Since 2003, it has increased in all the generalist channels.

Audio-description: only once-off pilot actions, namely by the public broadcaster and Cable TV operators (2003/2004) through broadcast of some popular movies with audio description by radio.

Digital TV

Portugal is in the early stages of developing Digital TV and has not yet decided on the analogue switch-off date, which is expected to occur between 2010 and 2012.

Other initiatives

Under the National Programme for the Inclusion of Disabled People in the Information Society (RCM nº 110/2003), the PNAI 2003-2005 includes a measure aiming to enlarge by 10% the average number of hours with subtitling services in the public broadcaster through the teletext system.

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