Film & TV
Your accessibility partner for all your films and TV programmes.
Make your movies and TV series accessible and engaging
Choose to make your films and TV series more accessible to a wider audience. The way people watch film and TV has changed, and continues to change.
Audiences expect more from production companies, studios, or broadcasters. For example, for films, deaf and hard of hearing viewers want more screenings with subtitles.
Another example of audiences' habits changing is that when watching TV, plenty of viewers would opt for subtitles (but they have to be available). Four out of five viewers (80%) between 18 and 25 years old said they use subtitles all or part of the time when watching TV on any device, data from Stagetext shows. As audience behaviours change, new expectations need to be met.
It can be forgotten that there is a huge opportunity for producers to have their film or show enjoyed by a larger audience. And for a disabled audience, we’ve seen first-hand that there is a strong brand affinity when they feel looked after, so there are commercial benefits too.
Whether it’s for a one-off short film, a planned blockbuster series, a set of TV programmes or a special on the box, we’d love to help your media be seen by the number of people it deserves to!
And if you want your film or TV show to be more accessible but don’t know where to start, or if you need some help with being compliant with requirements, we’re here to support you.
We can seamlessly work with production companies, broadcasters, streaming services and distributors to make your film & TV be more inclusive and reach a wider audience.
Our services
- SDH (Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
- Open captions
- Closed captions
- Voiceovers
- Audio description voiceover and script writing
- Subtitle translation
- Voice dubbing
- Video editing
- Sign language interpreting
- Multimedia accessibility consultation
- Production support
- Dedicated account management
- Compliance guidance and support
We offer a huge variety of media accessibility services to cater to the film and TV industry. And we do so with ISO certifications for quality management, information security management and translation services. What more can you ask for?
Ready to get started? Contact us today and find out why we are rated highly on Trustpilot.
“This was our first time creating an audio-described version of a film, and VoiceBox made the whole process feel very straightforward. The audio description was thoughtful, sensitive to the tone of the film and carefully integrated without distracting from the original performances or storytelling.”
What does our process look like?
It always starts with your film and TV needs. We don’t go in looking to sell you something; we just want the best solution for you. That’s what brings our clients back time and time again.
As part of that promise, our process begins with a chat or call to discuss your situation and where you’re at, whether that be the development stage, pre-production, production, etc.
We provide simple advice on which deliverables may be best to meet your needs, whether that be subtitles, voiceovers, audio description or others.
Once we agree on the process, we call on our expert linguists, from captioners to voice over artists. We can add things like subtitles in post-production.
We support compliance with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, as well as broadcaster and streaming service specifications (such as Channel 4’s closed caption requirement on adverts).
Our consistent workflows, which have been tested over thousands of projects, mean that we can provide several languages and services at the same time for film & TV work.
As with every project, we communicate clearly throughout the process. Once complete, our experienced in-house project managers coordinate specialist reviewers and assess each deliverable against the source material and your requirements.
Film and TV accessibility that works for you
We’re on a mission to make content inclusive and global ready. And if that’s something you would like to be a part of, we’d love to support you.
With VoiceBox, you get dedicated account management from start to finish. Friendly people who genuinely care about providing you with the best service and delivery that we can. You won’t find any bots here.
We don’t expect you to be ‘perfect’ right now. However, we always say that being more accessible is better than not being accessible at all.
At VoiceBox, we work with a variety of clients and partners from Zoya Films to Google and every client gets the same level of attention to detail and quality. That’s why they come back time and time again.
What accessibility services does VoiceBox provide for film and TV?
VoiceBox provides a variety of multimedia accessibility services for film and TV, including subtitles (open and closed), subtitle translation, audio description, voiceover, sign language interpreting and video editing.
What are the accessibility requirements for film?
In the UK, there isn’t a single law that says every film must have subtitles, audio description or BSL. However, UK cinemas and film exhibitors have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled audiences.
Additionally, films receiving support from the BFI or being screened through certain festivals and funding programmes may be expected to provide accessibility measures such as subtitles, audio description and other audience access services.
Are there accessibility requirements for TV?
Yes, in many cases there are accessibility requirements for TV. UK broadcasters may be required to meet accessibility obligations for subtitling, audio description and signing under regulations. For example, the Ofcom access service targets for qualifying TV channels like the BBC includes 80% subtitling, 10% audio description and 5% signing (BSL/in-vision signing).
Streaming platforms also commonly require or expect accessibility assets such as subtitles and audio description.
Can VoiceBox work on TV series and one-off programmes?
Yes, of course VoiceBox can work on both TV series and one-off programmes. We can support one-off projects and continual, regular work. Ultimately, we adapt to your needs to provide the best service that we can.
Can VoiceBox work on all types of films?
Yes, at VoiceBox we can work on all types of films. Whether you need support for a blockbuster, a short film for BFI delivery, feature films, documentaries, animated films and more, we can support your needs.
Does VoiceBox work with different types of broadcasters?
Yes, VoiceBox can work with a variety of organisations from public-service broadcasters and commercial broadcasters to streaming services and production companies.
Do AI solutions work for TV and film?
In theory, AI solutions can work for TV and film. However, we wouldn’t always recommend AI for external media where a lot of time and effort has gone into it.
AI subtitling could be useful with a human post-edit, but that can be just as time-consuming as human subtitling.
And for AI voiceover services, it’s good (and improving) but still doesn’t have the consistency and impact that humans do, which is needed for TV and film.
Does VoiceBox offer in-house vendor management?
Yes, at VoiceBox we offer in-house vendor management. Our project managers work with the vendor management team to source, vet and onboard the people who contribute to our projects and services, like subtitlers or voice over artists. This is rare in our industry.
Are subtitles suitable for film and TV?
Subtitles are a perfect choice for film and TV. They enable deaf and hard of hearing viewers to follow what is going on. They also provide all audiences with the ability to follow TV and films if they are in a noisy environment.
Is Netflix regulated by Ofcom?
Yes, to an extent. Traditionally, Netflix has not been regulated in the same way as UK television broadcasters such as the BBC or ITV, which are subject to specific broadcasting rules and accessibility quotas.
However, the UK's Media Act 2024 expanded Ofcom's powers to regulate certain large video-on-demand services. As a result, major streaming platforms may be subject to new accessibility requirements covering services such as subtitles, audio description and signing.
Can VoiceBox support with BFI delivery?
Yes, VoiceBox can support with British Film Institute (BFI) delivery and we do so regularly over the course of the year. We can provide SDH (Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing), audio description and other media accessibility services.
In fact, we supported Zoya Films with audio description services for BFI delivery.
What are some examples of media accessibility for films?
For films, some examples of media accessibility include voiceovers for narrators, subtitles (open or closed captions) and audio description tracks so that people who are blind and have sight loss can listen via headsets.
Is VoiceBox experienced with film and TV media accessibility?
VoiceBox is very experienced with film and TV media accessibility and localisation. Since being founded in 2014, this is one of the industries that which we have catered to most.
We work with a wide variety of clients including ad delivery specialist Cape.io as an accessibility partner to film and motion graphics production company like Yard B Studios.
What do VoiceBox’s quality assurance (QA) checks look like?
At VoiceBox, our quality assurance (QA) checks involve using specialist reviewers and our team to check each project against the source material and the requirements of the client. This includes accuracy, terminology, consistency, timing, formatting, audio quality and overall presentation.
The overall process is managed by our experienced in-house project managers for all of our services.
Get in touch
Let's have a chat! We offer free consultations, honest advice and demos so you can explore what's possible before making a decision.