ESPN Fined For Failing To Provide Enough Audio Description For Visually Impaired

ESPN has been fined £120,000 ($202,000) "for failing to provide enough audio description around programmes for blind and visually impaired viewers," according to Mark Sweney of the London GUARDIAN. Media regulator Ofcom "has fined the broadcaster after an investigation, conducted last year." Ofcom found that ESPN "was providing audio descriptions on less than half the amount of programming that regulations require on its main channel." According to Ofcom's code, ESPN "is required to provide audio descriptions with 5% of programming, but the broadcaster was found to be delivering the service to just 2.3%." ESPN "has fallen foul of Ofcom regulations before, primarily because it airs so much live sport, for which it is very difficult to provide audio descriptions." An ESPN spokesperson said that the company "has been in talks with Ofcom about the issue, which has been exacerbated by only having one channel to air all programming, to no avail" (GUARDIAN, 5/23).