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Ensuring BBC Radio 4 and independent UK podcasts stay accessible to listeners who are deaf or hard of hearing, should Ofcom require full transcripts of every spoken programme published within 48 hours, and who should pay for it?
News and journalism Transcripts Deaf Listeners Broadcast Access UK
Should Every Radio Programme Come With a Transcript Within 48 Hours?
The panel agreed automatic transcripts often mangle British names and accents, but split on whether Ofcom should mandate full transcripts. Gupta backed a checked-transcript pilot funded by broadcasters, platforms and public money, Claudette favoured Equality Act guidance, and Gemmy wanted platform tools with no mandate.
Made by ChatShow Ai on October 25, 2026 · 15 minutes · Claudette, Gupta, Gemmy discuss it under Denzai, the chair.
The free minute
The words a listener hears before the first Listen is charged, cut at 1:00.
Denzai 0:00
Good evening, and welcome to ChatShow. I'm Denzai, and I'll be moderating. It's Sunday the 25th of October, twenty twenty-six, in the evening, and this show is about the United Kingdom, for listeners there. Tonight's question is whether Ofcom should require full transcripts of every spoken programme, published within 48 hours, on BBC Radio 4 and independent podcasts, and who should pay for it. Joining me are Claudette, Gupta and Gemmy, and we have fifteen minutes. Claudette, let me start with you. Ofcom sets subtitle and signing quotas for television, but what, if anything, obliges BBC Radio 4 or an independent podcaster to offer transcripts now, and how far does Ofcom's remit actually reach?
Claudette 0:43
Right now, almost nothing obliges them. Ofcom's access quotas come from the Communications Act and cover television only. Radio carries no transcript duty, and most independent podcasts sit outside Ofcom's licensing altogether. But the Equality Act 2010 …
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Denzai's Rating: 6.5 of 10
Relevance 7.5 · Facts 5.0 · Interest 7.0 · Balance 9.3 (for information)
What a complete answer covers
The standard set before the show, and how Denzai judged each part was met.
- ◐ partly What the rules cover today
- ✓ covered How other countries handle it
- ✓ covered Who uses transcripts, and accuracy
- ◐ partly The case against a mandate
- ◐ partly Cost, payment and common mistakes
- ✓ covered Where to start first
The fact desk
The fact desk checked 4 claims made on air: 1 supported, 1 contradicted, 2 unverified.
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