Next month’s T20 World Cup in the Americas will offer special telecast arrangements for cricket fans with hearing and visual impairments. Official broadcasters Disney Hotstar and Star Sports Network will introduce Indian Sign Language and audio descriptive feeds for 10 matches, including India’s games, semi-finals, and finals. This groundbreaking initiative aims to make cricket more inclusive and immersive for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and visually impaired viewers.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, applauded the move, emphasizing its significance in enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in sports broadcasting. Disney Hotstar also sets a precedent as the first OTT platform to provide ISL coverage for live cricket matches.
Anurag Thakur said: “The Government of India is committed to creating an inclusive society and I strongly believe that this initiative will enhance the viewing experience for millions of differently-abled sports enthusiasts.”
The ISL feed will feature a dedicated translator providing ball-by-ball updates during the live stream, ensuring that deaf viewers can follow the action seamlessly. Additionally, the audio descriptive feed will utilize voice-over technology to narrate specific pages, transforming text and images into speech output for visually impaired audiences.
Sajith Sivanandan the head of Disney Hotstar said: “This underscores our commitment to promote inclusivity and serve all users. With these enhancements, we aim to ensure that the excitement of cricket knows no bounds.”
“Our mission of serving sports fans is powered by such pioneering initiatives which seek to remove barriers of access and engagement for fans from all walks of life. The initiative also serves to present a more inclusive picture of India’s favourite sport and is of immense pride for the sporting fraternity.”
Alok Kejriwal, Founder and CEO of India Signing Hands, a non-profit organization advocating for equal opportunities for the deaf, praised the initiative as a significant step towards inclusion and accessibility in sports entertainment. According to the World Health Organization, India is home to an estimated 6.3 crore deaf individuals and four crore visually impaired individuals, underscoring the importance of initiatives like these to cater to diverse audience needs and promote equal participation in sports viewing experiences.
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