Videos and Podcasts
Accessible Video Content
When including video and/or audio content on your site, you are required by law to ensure they meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. This means ensuring you are providing closed captions/subtitles and transcripts where required.
If your video has audio content, captions are required. This is a requirement for both pre-recorded and live video content.
- For pre-recorded videos, captions are required in WCAG at Level A.
- For live videos, captions are required in WCAG at Level AA.
You need to include closed captions/subtitles on any video with spoken dialogue. Therefore, in any video when someone is talking, subtitles should display what is said.
What are closed captions?
Closed captions are a text version of the spoken part of a video. Captions are called 'closed' captions because they are hidden, until they are opened by the viewer from a menu to view. It is the same as choosing to turn subtitles on when viewing a TV programme. On your website, the user can choose to turn captions on when viewing your video.
Example of Closed Captions displayed on a YouTube video:
Adding Captions using Youtube
Youtube auto includes captions for videos you upload. You can choose to either leave the auto captions as they are or edit the auto captions to make them more accurate. It is recommended that you manually refine the auto captions. Youtube shows you how to add and edit captions using its online guidance.
Google Chrome Captions
One of the latest features in Google Chrome is that anyone can enable live captions on videos and audio played through the Chrome browser. Learn how to use live captions in Chrome
Live Captions in MS Teams
MS Teams offers a live captioning facility. Learn how to turn on live captioning for Teams meetings. Captions in live meetings are not saved so if you want a transcript of the meeting, don't forget to turn on transcription also.
Accessible Audio Content
Audio content typically means a podcast you are including on your site. WCAG 2.1 regulations require all audio content published to the web to be supported by text equivalents. This means all audio podcasts require a transcript.
What is a transcript?
A transcript is a text based translation of the audio content of a video or podcast. This should also include notes on who is speaking if there are multiple presenters. It can be presented either as an accompanying accessible pdf or form part of the text of the web page itself.
Advice on Podcasts
Please contact the Mediasite team for advice on how to create Podcasts using the Mediasite platform and how to create a transcript of your recording.
Exemptions
You do not need to fix pre-recorded audio and video published before 23 September 2020:
Further Reading and Resources
- Making Audio and Video Media Accessible - A W3C resource helping to explain how to make video and audio content accessible.
- Adding subtitles and captions in YouTube - learn more about refining YouTube's closed caption facility.
- Using Live Captions in Chrome - find out how to turn on live captions for media that you play in Chrome.
- Using Live Captions in MS Teams - learn how to turn on and refine live captions for Teams meetings.
- Understanding the W3C criteria A 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) - A W3C resource providing in-depth detail on the intent and terminology of prerecorded video captions requirements.
- Understanding the W3C criteria - AA 1.2.4 Captions (Live) - A W3C resource providing in-depth detail on the intent and terminology of live video captions requirements.
- Government Requirements - read an overview of the accessibility requirements for public sector bodies.
- Jisc's guide on video captioning and accessibility regulations - read Jisc's interpretation of the government regulations for public sector institutions.