1. WHAT MUST BE PROVIDED IN AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA SERVICES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
ACCESSIBILITY MEASURES FOR AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA SERVICES
Persons with disabilities should have non-discriminatory opportunities for equal integration into the living environment and equal access to information. Measures in the field of media services are aimed in particular at persons with visual or hearing impairments so that they can follow audiovisual media services in a way that is adapted to them.
The measures shall in particular:
- translation into Slovene sign language;
- subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing;
- recordings of spoken text for viewers to watch at the same time as the content;
- the use of subtitles in different colours (for example in the case of multiple speakers);
- annotations of other audio information in the content to help deaf and hard of hearing viewers understand what is happening on screen;
- spoken subtitles;
- audio descriptions, etc.
ENFORCEMENT OF ACCESSIBILITY TO AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA SERVICES
Providers of audiovisual media services must progressively and continuously improve the accessibility of their services to persons with disabilities through proportionate measures.
Broadcasters and providers of on-demand audiovisual media services are required to draw up three-year accessibility enforcement plans and to report to the Agency every three years thereafter on the implementation of the measures provided for in the plans.
Public service announcements and notices and emergency information in the event of natural disasters published through audiovisual media services must be provided in a technique, form or language adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities.
2. WHO THEY CAN TURN TO FOR HELP
LODGING A COMPLAINT
With regard to accessibility to audiovisual media services, the Agency provides the possibility to receive complaints in writing by post, by email, by telephone or in person.
Written complaints should be sent to the Agency for Communication Networks and Services of the Republic of Slovenia, Stegne 7, 1000 Ljubljana. Electronic complaints shall be sent to the following e-mail address: info.box@akos-rs.si. Complaints can also be made by telephone on +386(0)1 583 63 00 from 8.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. During office hours from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 11.00, and on Wednesdays from 13.00 to 14.00, you can visit the Authority's headquarters at Stegne 7 in Ljubljana and make your complaint orally by prior appointment.
COMPLAINT FORM
Form for lodging a written complaint regarding accessibility to audiovisual media can be lodged using the relevant form, which can be found on the AKOS website under the tab E-FORMS AND FORMS or here. The complainant does not have the status of a party to the proceedings.
3. WHERE THESE RIGHTS ARE ENSHRINED
The accessibility of audiovisual media services is regulated at European Union level by Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) and Directive (EU) 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending the Audiovisual Media Services Directive in the light of changing market conditions.
Provisions on accessibility of audiovisual media services in the Republic of Slovenia are laid down in Article 14a of the Law on Audiovisual Media Services (Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 87/11, 84/15 and 204/21; hereinafter: ZAvMS) - Protection of persons with disabilities in audiovisual media services. The procedure for handling accessibility complaints under this Article of the AVMSA is laid down in the General Act on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No 70/2022).