Ofcom's Audio Description Quotas — Published Channel-by-Channel Compliance, with Named Shortfalls

The Communications Act 2003 and Ofcom's Code on Television Access Services require UK broadcast channels to audio describe a set share of their programming; the standard annual audio-description quota is 10% of hours, with exemptions for channels whose content leaves little room for description. Ofcom publishes annual channel-by-channel access-services reports, which makes compliance publicly checkable.
Ofcom's 2023 report found most channels meeting or exceeding the quota: 13 channels provided audio description on over 50% of programming, up from seven in 2022. It also named a shortfall: DMAX provided 9.1% against its 10% requirement and Ofcom said it would investigate.
RNIB's 2023 Broadcast Content Project, an independent audit, found 33% of programmes on Freeview channels were audio described, against 32% in 2021, with no improvement in sports. The gain was slow, and the audit shows quotas set a floor, not a guarantee of coverage of the programmes people want to watch.
Caveat: figures come from the regulator's and RNIB's published summaries; the quota is calendar-year based and on-demand services are covered by separate, less demanding rules.

Read the full analysis: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/accessibility/television-and-on-demand-programme-services-access-services-report--january-to-december-2023/