NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be more accessible than ever before, with enhanced closed captioning, expanded audio description, and improved digital content accessibility. Read below for a Q&A about accessibility for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Where and when can I watch the Olympic and Paralympic coverage with audio description on television?
All coverage on NBC, including daytime, primetime, and late night, and the Gold Zone whip-around show on Peacock, will feature audio description provided by Descriptive Video Works. In a first for a U.S. broadcaster, audio description services for NBC coverage will be provided in stereo, enhancing the quality of sound for viewers. For the Paralympic Games, NBC Sports will provide live audio description for all broadcast and cable programming, including those aired outside primetime hours, as well as on all simulstreams. (NBC Sports press release).
This means that for the Olympic Games, all broadcast programming including the opening and closing ceremonies, regardless of when it airs, will have live audio description on the SAP channel on the NBC network; for the Paralympic Games, all broadcast programming including the opening and closing ceremonies, regardless of when it airs, will have live audio description on the SAP channel on NBC and other cable networks. The Audio Description Project’s daily listing of TV shows with description is listing the Olympic coverage—look for 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Please consult the ADP’s audio description on television information page for general guidelines on how to access SAP.
Who do I contact if audio description is not being passed through on television?
If you are not receiving audio description or you're experiencing an issue with audio description on NBC television, please send an email to [email protected].
Please include the following information in your email:
- Your name
- The city, state, and zip code where NBC is being received
- Your television provider (example, over-the air with antenna, or the name of the cable, satellite, or internet provider)
- The NBC TV station you are reporting (example: WMAQ, Chicago 5)
- What is the cable or satellite set-top-box that is connected to your TV? Or the internet connected device used with your TV (example: Roku, Apple TV, etc.)
- What is the programming you are inquiring about and the date and time of the issue you are noting? (Example: NBC Olympic Primetime Show, July 26, 9:15PM EDT)
Can I stream the Olympic and Paralympic coverage live with audio description?
Improved web content accessibility, including keyboard navigation, color contrast and support for screen readers, will be available on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC Sports app, and Peacock. Livestreams and replays which offer audio description will have English audio description as a language choice within the players on these digital platforms.” For most content on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, and the NBC Sports app, a provider sign-in will be required; for the Peacock platform, a subscription is required to view content.
On NBCOlympics.com, you can activate the “Personalize your schedule” button on the Schedule page, and personalize by sport, interest (such as “Audio Description”), and viewing method. Additionally, the streams with audio description can be found by searching for “audio description” on NBCOlympics.com, filtering by the “Audio Description“ topic in the NBC Sports app, and looking under the “Audio Description” heading of the Olympics section on Peacock.
All of this audio description and closed captioning will be available to Comcast Xfinity customers who experience the Games on the Xfinity X1 platform, including on the live Olympic Games coverage delivered in 4K, on Xfinity Stream, and on Xfinity Flex. (NBC Sports press release).
To easily find all events streaming with audio description, consult the schedule on NBCOlympics.com. To view only a chronological schedule of streams with AD, consult the live stream schedule on NBCOlympics.com. There is also a page that lists the replay streams for the Olympics with audio description.
To contact NBCUniversal about issues related to audio description, please send an email to [email protected].
Can I stream the Olympic and Paralympic Games on-demand after the fact with audio description?
All television coverage live streams are able to be replayed on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC Sports app, and Peacock after the fact. For the NBC Olympics platform, please consult the replay streams with audio description page. Alternatively, search for “audio description," navigate to the “REPLAYS” level-two heading, and choose the stream you want to watch.
To contact NBCUniversal about issues related to audio description, please send an email to [email protected].
How do I access audio description of a live stream or replay?
Livestreams and replays which offer audio description will have English audio description as a language choice within the players on … NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC Sports app, and Peacock.
Read the NBC Sports press release.