"Streaming
video" (or VOD, Video On Demand) refers to video (like a movie) which is
delivered to an end-user upon request (demand) over the Internet in a
continuous transmission or stream. Typically, the video is viewed
in real time, but it may also be capable of being downloaded for later
viewing. When a subscription fee is charged (like Netflix), this
delivery mechanism is called SVOD, Subscription Video On Demand.
If you make the purchases one at a time (like iTunes), it is called TVOD, Transactional Video On Demand. Some SVOD services
(like Disney+) offer premium content for an additional one-time fee.
This is called PVOD, Premium Video On Demand. The Satellite
services DirecTV and Dish Network utilize a format known as NVOD,
or Near Video On Demand,
which is a fancy term for pay-per-view. Another interesting
piece of terminology is vMVPD, virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributor; e.g., pay-TV services that are only
available via broadband connections (Sling TV is an example).
Finally we have AVOD, Advertising Video On Demand,
which is the model used by streaming services when you don't pay a fee,
but you are forced to receive advertisements just like over-the-air
television. Enough of the alphabet soup, you say!
All of these methods of delivery are different from over-the-air, cable, or satellite television, or a video on disc (DVD or Blu-ray), which you can learn about on our Television or DVDs web pages. If you are exploring "cutting the cord," see our article entitled Cord-Cutting Options Supporting Audio Description. LAST UPDATED: Mar 17, 2023.
Recent Top Ten Streaming Shows |
Many new TV sets (calling themselves Smart TVs) and cable boxes offer Internet access with then allows built-in access to multiple streaming services. Alternatively, you may purchase a number of devices which plug into your TV's HDMI input port, and from there you switch the input to that port, answer setup questions one time to connect to your wireless internet, possibly download one or more free apps, and then access the streaming services listed on this page through this new device and its own remote. While there may be a few other similar devices, here is a list of the most popular ones:
If you want to know how to access the various services via various devices, we recommend that you read this article: Book Review: Audio Description: What It Is, Where to Find It, and How to Use It, by Judy Dixon. Chapter 3 discusses seven streaming services and eight devices. It is available from National Braille Press in Braille, eBraille, DAISY, and Word.
While most of the information on this page is USA-only, we do have this list of streaming services in the UK which offer audio description updated as of September 2021, thanks to Sonali Rai of the RNIB:
You can also read this Access Services Report from 2021 to read an evaluation on how the various UK services are doing.
The following airlines are known to provide
audio described content via their in-flight entertainment systems: American, ANA (Japan), British Airways, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, United, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin
Australia. Such services would only be available on flights
offering individual screens on seat backs or those which support using
your own device (like an iPad or computer). Note, however, that
most services do not offer audio MENUS, so you will probably need
sighted assistance to select a movie with AD. In July 2020, United
Airlines was honored by the ADP with the Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl
Memorial Achievement Award in Audio Description.
Prices are listed low-to-high as of Feb '23, followed by the number of described titles that we list for them on this website. iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu are not listed because they are transactional based services, not subscription services. These are base prices, typically with commercials.
All prices above are rounded up by 1 cent! Sometimes you can prepay for a year of service and get a couple of months "free." Since these are base prices, paying more money for some of the services will get you additional simultaneous streams, or higher quality video, or more content, or fewer/no ads -- or some combination. To find an offer, try searching for "your-streaming-service your-internet/phone-provider."
Here is a nice article comparing streaming services. Ironically, they say the top one is discovery+, the only one which doesn't offer description! On the other hand, Warner Bros Discovery says it will offer discovery+ as an add-on with HBO Max in spring 2023. If you wonder how the services rank in popularity (number of subscribers), you will find them in this blog post ranking the services (from December '22)
The following section lists all we know about video streaming services, with the ones actually providing some description listed first. Most, but not all, require a subscription or pay-per-view. Our table is divided into two categories:
Note 1: Any reference to pricing is subject to change and is
rounded up to the nearest dollar. Some services offer a discount
for paying for a full year.
Note 2: Amazon's Fire TV Recast DVR, used in
conjunction with a Fire Stick, is NOT a streaming service. It is a
DVR for over-the-air programs, but it does support AD.
HAVE-AD ABC | AMC+ | Apple TV | Apple TV+ | AT&T TV | CBS | Channels | DirecTV Stream | discovery+ | Disney+ |
Google Play | HBO Max | Hulu | freevee | iTunes | Netflix | Paramount+ | PBS Video | Peacock | Pornhub | Prime Video | Showtime | Vimeo | Vudu | YouTube TV
NO-AD or DON'T KNOW AMC On Demand | BET+ | BritBox | BroadwayOnDemand | Comcast Choice | Crackle | Crunchyroll | CuriousityStream | Documentary+ |FilmRise |
Fox Now | Funimation | frndly | fuboTV | Hallmark Movies Now | HappyKids | HBO | Magellan | Means TV | MGM+ | NBC | Philo | Plex | Pluto TV | Quibi | Redbox | Roku Channel |Shudder | Sling TV | Spectrum TV Choice | Sundance Now | The Achievery | Toon Goggles | Tubi | Xumo | YouTube Premium
Service | Description of Offering | Examples |
---|---|---|
The following services are known to include at least some audio described programming. |
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The ABC app offers access to live content and select previous episodes from iOS mobile devices, Apple TV, and other devices in select markets for free. Generally (but not always), if an ABC show offers audio description, the show will be described using the app. NOTE: To activate description, you must do so via your device settings, not the app itself. For example (with iOS devices): Settings, General, Accessibility, Audio Descriptions, On. ABC Digital was the recipient of the ADP's 2017 Achievement in Audio Description - Media award for this app! |
black-ish, Shark Tank, The Conners, The Rookie |
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AMC+ is a service that brings together content from across
AMC Networks' brands, including AMC, Shudder, Sundance Now, and
IFC Films, along with other select AMC programming.
There are various subscription options through a variety of services. We know that IFC Films produces AD tracks for many of its newer videos, and folks have indicated they wish Shudder offered AD
(it doesn't); so we have been hopeful that they would offer audio description. Apparently, starting in September 2022, they do, even if in very limited form. Since we know they offer something, we have moved them up in our listing, but we know very little at this time. Probably the only "safe" way to get AD is to order directly from AMC and use their app. |
Tales of the Walking Dead, Kevin Can Go F*ck Himself (season 2) |
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The Apple TV app (as described by Apple) is: "Apple Original shows and movies from Apple TV+. Just the premium channels you want. Thousands of movies to buy or rent. Popular streaming services and cable TV providers ... all in the Apple TV app. On all your screens. It’s the ultimate way to watch TV." "Customers can subscribe to Apple TV channels within the Apple TV app - paying for only the ones they want - and watch on demand directly in the app. Subscribers can watch and download shows and movies both online and offline. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share subscriptions to Apple TV channels using just their Apple ID and password." For more information about how to find audio-described content, please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205742. Note that THIS app is how you get to Apple TV+ (below). |
For Apple TV: Depends on provider |
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On November 1, 2019, Apple TV+, "the first all-original video subscription service," became available via the Apple TV app. The present cost is $7/month. According to Apple when announced, Apple TV+ is the "new home for the world's most creative storytellers featuring exclusive original shows, movies and documentaries. It [features] a brand new slate of programming from the world's most celebrated creative artists, including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, ... and more." Almost all original content is audio described in nine languages! With over 20 million subscribers and 5% of the streaming market*, they currently offer over 100 titles; see Apple TV+ Described Videos. Trailers for Apple TV+ content are described in the Apple TV app. NOTE: the (subscription) Apple TV+ is accessed via the (free) Apple TV app. Verizon Unlimited Data customers include a free subscription to Apple TV+. The details may vary from time to time.
In March 2022 Apple announced that they had secured rights for a Friday-night package of Major League Baseball games, about 50/year. In November 2021, the ACB honored Apple with an "Audio Description Game Changer" award. |
All original content such as See, The Morning Show, The Elephant Queen; plus a few old standards like Charlie Brown movies; and coming soon: Major League Baseball |
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The new CBS app (which you need to download from your device's App Store - there is no central link) completely replaced the former CBS app which migrated itself to become Paramount+ in March 2021. It offers audio description for shows which are described on the CBS television network. These shows are available to everyone for free for 28 days after release and longer if you sign in via a content provider sign in (like a cable TV network). You can trigger AD from a menu on the upper right of the screen. |
Bob Hearts Abishola, the NCIS franchise, S.W.A.T., Young Sheldon |
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The free Channels app takes input from an antenna and/or a cable fed to an HDHomeRun tuner ($100 to $250) which in turn connects to your router; then you can use the app on various devices to control and watch channels. An optional subscription service gives you access to a virtual DVR with all the usual options. Audio Description is supported. Read our review of the Channels app and HDHomeRun Tuner. |
Depends on network |
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AT&T's streaming service, rolled out in the fall of
2019, is DirecTV Stream. Previous names were AT&T TV, DirecTV,
U-Verse TV, AT&T Now, and AT&T Watch TV.
Pricing starts at $75/month. You can use your own streaming media device, or for an extra fee use their set-top box running Android and Talk Back for
their talking interface. The included cloud DVR does record AD (but
has limited capacity and retention time limits unless you pay $10 more). The customer service number is reportedly 888-388-4249. We rely upon user
input for more information! Please tell us your experience. |
Most networks, at least via the iPhone |
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discovery+ (whose name begins with a lowercase "d") debuted in the U.S.
on January 4, 2021 as "the definitive non-fiction, real
life subscription streaming service." Originally owned by
Discovery Communications, it is now owned by Warner Brothers Discovery. They offer a huge library of programming from 14 partner networks including HGTV, Food
Network, TLC, ID, OWN, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, and
Animal Planet. In October 2021, they initiated a grand total of two audio described titles noted to the right -- but you have to know where to find them! They are separate videos in the "Extras" category of the two main titles. We link to them directly in our Other Media navigation link. We can't be sure if these shows are still there or not -- let us know! |
Crutch; Introducing, Selma Blair (both documentaries about people with disabilities) |
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Disney+ has been available on almost every streaming device in the USA and Canada
since November 2019
and costs $10/month with ads, with a focus on family-friendly shows and movies
from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm (the Star Wars franchise),
and National Geographic. You will find over 800
titles in our list of Disney+ Audio Described Titles.
$13/month will get you a Disney+ / ESPN+ / Hulu bundle with ads ($7 more for no ads on D+ or Hulu). See all Disney Pricing Options. As of February 2023, Disney+ had about 47 million subscribers in the USA. One source* reports that have 13% of the streaming market (24% if you include Hulu). Disney was the recipient of the ADP's 2020 Achievement in Audio Description – Media award, specifically for having 300 titles audio described on day 1 of the new service and expanding rapidly from there. |
All Disney+ Originals like The Mandalorian; oldies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; and the complete Star Wars series |
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freevee offers FREE movies and TV series (with ads), SOME of which are audio described. You can access it via a web browser or via an app using an Amazon Fire product, Roku device, iOS device, Android device, or via the Prime Video app freevee section). Offerings in AD are somewhat limited (around 75 titles currently) and are listed at the bottom of our Prime Video AD page. |
Titles change each month |
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Google Play Movies (officially part of Google TV and also known as the Google Play Store) is an online video on demand service operated by Google. The service offers movies and television shows for purchase or rental, depending on availability (but the TV shows don't carry AD tracks as far as we know). Since June 2021 we have been listing Google Play movie titles on the ADP Website, where they currently list (but offer more than) 100 audio described titles. |
Cinderella, Fantasia, the Indiana Jones series, the Santa Claus series, Wonder |
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AT&T's WarnerMedia's HBO Max began offering audio
description in March 2021. It costs $16/month for commercial-free viewing, but a $10 a month
ad-supported option is available, though some shows are
excluded in this plan.
HBO, HBO Max, and discovery+ had a combined 92 million subscribers as of July '22; and in 2Q22 was the third largest streaming platform in the USA at 14%*. You can view our list of over 400
HBO
Max Audio Described Titles. The streaming service features WarnerMedia films and television
shows and includes content from properties like HBO, DC, TNT, TBS,
truTV, The CW, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster
Teeth, plus original programming (some released weekly, not all
at once). Some offerings run simultaneously with
first-run cinema release. HBO Max is offered at no extra charge to AT&T and
Charter customer subscribers who already pay for HBO or who
subscribe to the AT&T Internet 1000 Plan, as well as
former HBO Now subscribers. It is also
available on basically all media devices. After a year of informal negotiations with HBO regarding AD, a Settlement Agreement with the ACB was announced on October
19, 2020, resulting in the March 2021 rollout. |
Aquaman, Mare of Easttown, The Wizard of Oz, Wonder Woman |
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Hulu (available only in the USA and owned by Disney) costs $7/month ($18/month starting October 10, 2022) for the
advertising-supported version; $13/month for no ads ($14/month starting October 10, 2022). They
also offer an upgrade to Hulu +
Live at $70/month ($75-$83/month starting October 10, 2022), but the Live portion does not support audio
description, though it includes Disney+ and ESPN+.
Regular Hulu also offers a bundle with the Disney+ and ESPN+ services for $14/month ($15/month starting October 10, 2022) with ads and $20 without ads, and/or you can add HBO Max for $15/month. See all Hulu Pricing Options. Hulu has about 46 million subscribers (as of July '22), 11%* of the market, and currently offers over 200
titles with audio description; see Hulu
Audio Described Titles. |
A Handmaid's Tale (Original Series), Fyre Fraud (Original Documentary), TV Series like Bones and The Last Man on Earth |
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Apple's iTunes (which is being replaced on iOS devices by the Apple TV app and is not the same as Apple TV+)
offers over 1700
movies with audio description tracks for rent
(streaming) or purchase (downloading). They are designated
with the icon |
American Sniper, Beauty and the Beast, Ghostbusters, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Table 19, The LEGO Batman Movie |
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The dominant provider of streaming video with audio
description with over 220 million subscribers worldwide
and 23%* of the USA market is Netflix, a
subscription service available in nearly 200 countries ($10-$20/month
in the USA for unlimited viewing using web browsers, tablets,
and handheld computing devices; but |
Criminal Minds (TV Series), Grace and Frankie (Original Programming), Making a Murderer (Documentary), Inception (movie), plus tons of children's programming |
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Paramount+ (the successor to the original CBS All Access app) offers access to over 30,000 movies and
TV episodes via on-demand programming from CBS, MTV, BET, Comedy
Central, and other Paramount (formerly ViacomCBS) channels and brands, plus movies
from the Paramount Pictures studio, and live NFL sports. Local live content is also
currently available in select markets. There is a fee for
service ($5/month ad-supported or $10/month ad-free). They
currently offer over 200
shows with audio description;
see our list of Paramount+ Audio
Described Titles.
Streaming devices supported include
Fire devices, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV (V4 and up), iOS and Android devices, and some streaming
services like Prime Video. They also support AD via various browsers. A user says that for Apple TV: "When playing a
show, swipe down for a menu: info, closed captions, and audio.
Go to audio, then languages. If AD is available, it’ll be
there." Other devices work similarly, except on an iPhone, the
Audio Description option under Accessibility Settings is the
only control. As of Febuary 2023, they had 56 million subscribers. They offer a bundle with Showtime for either $12 or $15 per month combined. Note, however, that Showtime is in the initial stages of rolling out audio description, and initially AD is only available on the separate Showtime streaming app, not via the bundle with Paramount+. Paramount is working on getting this resolved. |
All CBS Prime-time Scripted Series, The Stand, Star Trek (many versions), The Twilight Zone, Mission: Impossible (multiple versions) |
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The PBS app is available for select platforms like Windows 10, iOS, and others. They offer access to local and national shows on demand. The app by itself offers little Audio Description (but American Experience and Nova were reported in May '21). However, if you are a sustaining member of your local PBS station, you get access to a feature called Passport, which means you have access to additional shows. Within that group of shows, a few more do have audio description. Check our list of described PBS shows that we know about. Please send us any additional titles you find... |
Minimal offerings, but includes American Experience, Nova, and Ken Burns' Country Music Special |
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NBCUniversal (a subsidiary of Comcast) began offering audio description on its streaming service named Peacock in June 2021. They offer over 200 audio described programs; see our listing of Peacock Audio Described Titles. Pricing is: (1) a $5 per month option with limited ads; or (2) an ad-free tier for $10 per month. (The Free Tier was dropped in February 2023.) It has 18 million paying USA subscribers (as of Dec '22). They offer films from Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, and other major studios, plus original series, news, sports, late-night, and reality, some of which (like Jimmy Fallon) are presented earlier than on TV. CNBC Article. |
American Ninja Warrior; Chicago Fire / PD / Med and other NBC series; Trollstopia; Where's Waldo |
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The Pornhub website provides a subset of their adult videos in a category named "Described Video." Further information is available in this article in the SFO Guardian. |
Sorry, no examples! |
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Amazon began offering audio described videos in June 2017, and they call their service Prime Video, available to the over 200 million Prime subscribers. They offer more described programming than any other service and show no sign of slowing down! Currently, there are the #2 service at 19%* of the market. They offer over 3000 movies and Amazon-produced TV shows with audio description tracks, with multiple viewing devices supported including all the "Fire" products. Some of the programming is available free to Amazon Prime members, while the majority of it requires a payment for either online streaming or downloading. For access information and title listing, see our page Prime Video Audio Described Titles, or go directly to the Amazon AD Video page for title selection. (NOTE: You may find that our own page contains a more current listing than Amazon's and is easier to use ...) |
Bosch (TV series), Arrival, Divergent, Fences, Office Christmas Party, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles |
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Showtime, owned by Paramount, offers a streaming service in addition to its cable TV add-on service.
In January, 2023, they gave us the go-ahead to list shows recently added to their streaming service with AD.
Currently they offer over 40
movies and Showtime Original TV Series with audio description tracks. You can purchase a Showtime subscription alone or bundled with Paramount+, but note that at this time, the bundled option does not offer any audio description. Also, there is no AD on cable subscriptions to Showtime. Please note that their user interface for screen readers and support for all media devices is not fully implemented yet. |
Billions, Confess Fletch, Yellowjackets |
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Vimeo is a free streaming service where users upload their own videos. A very small number of the uploaded videos contain audio description and are generally so-designated in their titles. Our link takes you to the list of titles matching "audio description" or "audio described," as both terms are used, but many of them are demos, movie trailers, or discussions of audio description. |
Driving Blind (movie), Muse of Fire (documentary), Movie Trailers, Short Films |
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Vudu, originally owned by Walmart but sold to Fandango (owned jointly by NBCUniversal and Warner Bros Discovery), offers movies (some free) for rental or sale on a variety of devices. In June 2022 they began offering a limited number of movies with audio description and now offer over 100 titles. |
Encanto, Jackass Forever, Turning Red |
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On April 8, 2022, AT&T's WarnerMedia division was spun off and merged with Discovery to form Warner Bros. Discovery. They previously announced the intent to merge their two streaming services (HBO Max and discovery+) into one, though starting initially with a bundling option (tbd). This is a place-holder entry to acknowledge the merger for a future combined service which will undoubtedly have audio description. For reference in consideration of what programming might have audio description, this is a partial list of brands the new company owns: Adult Swim, Animal Planet, AT&T SportsNet, Cartoon Network, Castle Rock Entertainment, Cinemax, CNN, Cooking Channel, discovery+, Discovery Channel, Eurosport, Fandango (30%), Food Network (69%), GolfTV, HBO Max, HGTV, HBO, Magnolia Network, OWN (95%), Philo, Science Channel, TBS, The CW (50%), TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, TruTV, TCM, Vudu (25%), Warner Bros (including DC Comics, New Line Cinema, WB Pictures and Home Entertainment and TV). | Pending formation... |
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YouTube TV, a Google subsidiary, is a paid OTT (over-the-top) streaming subscription service which streams live TV from the five major broadcast networks in the USA, plus over 70 other channels for $65/month. They refer to this service as Cable-Free Live TV. Our testing indicates that audio description is available, though not 100%. For instance, one user tells us that on-demand content does not have AD, while another user says it is difficult to navigate with an Apple TV. We offer this guide to accessing YouTube TV AD. |
Depends on network |
Other Streaming Services, NONE of which offer
description as far as we know.
|
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The AMC On Demand online video rental or purchase service does NOT support Audio Description per their support desk in October 2019. |
None |
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BET+ is the streaming component of BET, Black Entertainment Television, a division of Paramount. It offers "Exclusive Originals, Tyler Perry and Classic Hits" for $10/month. Their support group confirmed in January 2020 that they do not offer any audio description at this time |
None |
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BritBox bills itself as "The biggest streaming collection of British TV...ever. Dramas, comedies, mysteries, documentaries, soaps, lifestyle and more." Alas, none are audio described. In October 2019, they said that AD was a "great suggestion" that would be passed to their Editorial Team for review. We are taking this up again with them in 2023, as 15-20% of their content is described in the UK. |
None |
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Broadway On Demand is a new streaming service in 2020. "A base subscription to Broadway On Demand will be free with access to premium content available in a paid tier membership. In addition to live shows, the service will feature an array of archived content in partnership with artists, concert series and performance venues around the world. It will also feature educational materials and masterclasses, as well as backstage footage." (per Cord Cutters article). As far as we know, they do not offer any AD. |
None |
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Comcast Choice TV allows a user to subscribe to a Comcast video service without purchasing or using a set-top box. You can watch on the Xfinity Stream app. You must, however, have an Xfinity internet plan. The base cost is reportedly $30/month, which includes broadcast TV and DVR. The latest information we can find is in the following article: Comcast brings pay-TV upgrade option to Flex. We can't confirm the availability of AD or not. |
tbd |
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Crackle (also known as Crackle Plus) is a US-based free OTT video streaming platform for movies, TV series, and some original programming. It is a joint venture between Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (majority) and Sony Pictures Television (minority). It features a rotating list of titles from Sony and its subsidiaries. It does not offer any audio described content that we can find. In January 2020 they said they offered some and intended to offer more, but they were unable to provide any titles, and we couldn't find any ... |
None |
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Crunchyroll is an anime streaming company which has been around since 2006. in 2021 it was purchased by Sony's subsidiary Funimation. It has 4M paid users out of 100M registered users worldwide. Anime has no history of providing audio description, and we know of no AD plans for Crunchyroll at this time. (In March 2022, they began offering Funimation content.) |
None |
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CuriousityStream is "where viewers can journey through our world and beyond with thousands of documentary features and series ... stunning visuals and unrivaled storytelling to demystify science, technology, history and nature ... access available worldwide on your television, laptop or mobile device." $12/year. In February 2020 they replied to our inquiry as follows: "Unfortunately, we do not currently support audio description language tracks on our videos. It is something that we are looking to improve as inclusivity and accessibility are very important to us." |
None |
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DisneyNow is a free streaming service for Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD TV shows, games, Disney Channel Original Movies, and live TV, provided you have a participating cable provider for signin (though some content is free to everyone). They do not offer any audio description. | None |
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Documentary+ began operation on January 28, 2021. It is free, operates on most streaming devices, and offers both short and full-length documentary films. One source of new content will be the Sundance Film Festival. We have no reason be believe they support audio description. |
None |
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FilmRise is a FREE streaming service with about 10,000 films. There is not much content that was recorded originally with audio description tracks, but they have confirmed (April 2020) that they do not have the capability to offer any at this time. |
None |
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The FOX NOW app offers free access to Fox shows for iOS, Android, and other mobile devices; however, they do not offer any audio described content at this time. (They replied to our February 2016 inquiry: "it is not a feature we offer on online streaming at this time.") We asked again in February 2018 and received no reply. |
None |
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Funimation is an anime streaming service owned by Sony. In 2021, they purchased another anime service, Crunchyroll. We have no reason to believe they offer any AD. |
None |
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frndly TV is a family-friendly streaming service with 14 channels including Hallmark and CuriousityStream for $6 per month. They do not support audio description at this time; but in October 2021 they notified us that they "are in the process of engineering our applications so they can pass through the audio descriptions [from Hallmark] when selected by a subscriber ... our goal is to have it completed in the first half of 2022." Bravo! |
None |
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Fubo TV advertises itself as "100+ channels with local sports, news, Cloud DVR included" for $70+/month. We sent them an email asking if they support audio description, and this was their reply: "Audio description or Text-to-Speech is not available as a feature on fuboTV; however, most of the supported devices like RokuTV do have this feature built in in their settings." We are not quite sure how to interpret this response until we get user feedback. As of the end of 2021, they had 1.1 million subscribers (double the previous year) and are very successful financially. Fubo article. |
None |
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Hallmark Movies Now is Crown Media Family Networks’ subscription video on demand streaming service, launched in October 2017. They offer around 1,000 hours of commercial-free Hallmark-branded original "unique, feel-good programming" not currently found on the company’s regular TV networks. Most popular streaming devices are supported, and the fee is $5/month. When asked in August 2021 if they would be supporting AD in the app now that the Hallmark network is required to provide AD, they replied: "I know that we are currently looking into this as an option for our application, [and] I will make sure to note your feedback and share it with our senior leaders." YOU could email Hallmark also if you would like your interest known! See also the frndly entry for a future alternative option. |
None |
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HappyKids.tv is a free streaming app available on all major streaming devices. They describe their service as "Non-stop Rhymes, Music, Popular Shows, Stories, Activity Guide and Movies ... Trusted by Over 6 Million Parents." They do not support audio description. |
None |
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[This is NOT HBO Max] HBO does not offer any audio description. (HBO Go and HBO Now are no longer
available and did not offer AD.) App users are expected to have migrated to HBO Max. |
None |
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MagellanTV is a streaming service billed as "Documentaries Worth Watching." Plans start at $5/month. They have 1500+ titles. We have no reason to believe that they offer audio described content. |
None |
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Brand new in 2020, Means TV bills itself as "the world's first post-capitalist, cooperatively run streaming service." They offer "a library of films, documentaries, and shows with new programming added all the time [and] live weekly shows covering news, the working class, gaming and sports." It costs $10/month, has no ads, and operates on browsers, smartphones, and via streaming devices. |
None |
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MGM+ (formerly Epix until January 15, 2023) is a $6/month streaming app which can also be purchased as a streaming app or through Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV. It is now owned by Amazon, who, in capitalizing on the brand name MGM, is reportedly positioning MGM+ as a sister service to Prime Video and freevee. The channel's programming consists of recent and older theatrically released motion pictures, original television series, documentaries, and music and comedy specials. We have no reason to believe they support audio description -- unless you purchase your subscription via Prime Video! |
None, unless purchased via Prime Video |
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The NBC app offers free access to new and classic NBC shows on various devices, including iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, and Roku; however, they do not offer any audio described content at this time that we know about. |
None |
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Philo is a low-cost subscription streaming service offering 60 channels for $25 per month including DVR. Networks include Hallmark, HGTV, History, Discovery, and Nickelodeon; however, Philo does not pass through any audio description. They replied to our inquiry in both December 2019 and October 2021 similarly: "I will be sure to forward your suggestions to the right place for future consideration." In July 2020, a blind user reported she is working with Philo as a beta tester to make the app more accessible. Kudos! When she asked if they would add AD for HGTV, History, etc., they investigated (kudos again) but replied that engineering thought "it would be a disproportionately large task for us to add the ability to load secondary audio tracks at this point," but they would reassess later. Philo includes access to Paramount+, which does offer AD. If you would subscribe to Philo if they offered AD, write them! |
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Plex is a new streaming service in December 2019 which offers thousands of movies for free on many streaming devices. We contacted them to ask if they support audio description but received no response. In July 2020 they announced the addition of over 80 free live TV channels including Reuters TV, Yahoo Finance, Toon Goggles, Kidoodle TV, KidsFlix, and fubo Sports Network. Read: Plex launches its free movie and TV streaming service and Plex launches a live TV service with over 80 free channels, most available worldwide. |
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Pluto TV (owned
by Paramount) is a
free streaming app with over 250 channels. They don't seem
to want to provide a list of them, but that's what they claim!
It is accessible, at least on an iPhone, but it does
not support audio description. Being owned by Paramount, there is distinct possibility it might support AD in the future. They have 72 million subscribers as of October 2022. |
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Pure Flix specializes in "faith and family-friendly movies, original shows, engaging documentaries, and more." The cost is $8/month, less on a yearly plan. We have no reason to believe the offer any AD. | None |
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Quibi launched on April 6, 2020, as a mobile-only streaming platform. It closed operations on December 1, 2020. Its claim to fame was short 7-10 minute episodes, hoping to appeal especially to commuters. They did not offer audio description. In January of 2021, some of Quibi's content was picked up by Roku. |
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Redbox, known for its red self-service DVD and Blu-ray disc kiosks, also has a streaming service that it calls Redbox On Demand. As far as we know, you cannot access an audio description track as an alternate language. Let us know if you can! In December 2020 Redbox introduced "Free On Demand, an ad-supported streaming destination promising hundreds of titles arriving weekly that are 'curated to the tastes of Redbox audiences.'" We think this is called Free Live TV on their website, and again there is no indication of audio description. |
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The Roku Channel is a free streaming service exclusively for Roku owners and Samsung Smart TVs. A quick check by a user in March 2020 of a movie known to have AD did not offer any AD option. |
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Shudder is a subscription service for the horror, thriller, and suspense genres, with originals, movies, TV series, podcasts, and live streaming events for under $5/month. Nothing is audio described, but they passed along a request from us to add it in March 2020. A number of users have expressed interest in having AD on this service, so email Shudder if you want AD! |
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Sling TV, owned by Dish Network, is an OTT (Over the Top) streaming service which offers over 50 channels including CNN, ESPN, TNT, TBS, The Cartoon Network, and Blockbuster on Demand, and supports the usual cadre of devices like iOS and Roku. Subscriptions start at $35/month, discounted for the first month. At YE21 they had about 2.5 million subscribers. There is an optional associated device named AirTV 2 which streams local stations to your TV and also has a DVR function. When used with Sling TV, all stations appear together in the guide. User experience reports no AD (verified 2/22). |
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Spectrum TV Stream is a $30/month streaming service with user-selection of 15 cable channels received (i.e., a la carte); but you must be a Spectrum Internet customer to purchase this. It's a bit of a pain to find online information, so call customer service at 855-366-7132. We do not know if they pass through audio description. |
tbd |
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Sundance Now offers "a gripping and rich selection of true crime, fiercely intelligent thrillers, and heart-stopping dramatic series from around the world." It is available through Sling TV and Dish Networks, plus Fire TV, Roku, and as an iOS App. It costs $7/month or $60/year. As far as we know, it does not support audio description. | None |
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The Achievery was introduced in March 2022 by AT&T in conjunction with WarnerMedia. "The platform features clips from some of the most popular, well-loved movies, TV shows and cartoons from Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network, paired with lessons and learning activities that students can engage with everywhere they are." We asked them about Audio Description and they replied, "we have this in our product roadmap." | None |
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Toon Goggles is one of several children's programs video streaming services, supporting iOS, Android, and Windows. They do not offer any audio described content at this time. In February 2018 they indicated they had no timetable for adding it. |
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Tubi, "Free Movies & TV, Fewer Ads than Cable, No Subscription Required" claims to have over 40,000 hours of "streaming video content from studios like Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM and more." It was purchased by Fox in March 2020. As of late 2022, they have over 50 million users and have acquired a new source (MarVista) for content, in addition to a deal with NBC Universal. We wrote awhile back to ask if they support audio description, but they didn't reply. We will write again. You should too! |
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Comcast's Xumo was "repurposed" in November 2022 as a joint venture between Comcast and Charter Communications, "evolving the brand from a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service to an entire entertainment ecosystem inclusive of streaming devices, content, and a platform for partners to reach audiences at scale ... Xumo will go-to-market with its first branded devices in late 2023, distributed by Comcast, Charter and Walmart, with additional distributors to be announced in the future." Whether or not any of this includes audio description is TBD! The previous Xumo FAST system is being renamed Xumo Play. Xumo Press Release. Presently, Xumo is a free streaming service which features over 190 different genre-grouped channels. They also offer a free Kids TV Channel with 40+ shows. Xumo is an app available via streaming products like Fire TV or Roku, Xfinity or Flex cable boxes, and via browsers. |
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YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) is a subscription streaming service; however, it does not offer any audio described content at this time. They responded to our inquiry in February 2016 by saying they would pass the request along to their product team. See however YouTube TV above. |
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OTHER SERVICES |
There are many other streaming video services that we don't know anything about, but we don't have any reason to believe any of them offer audio described content. The world is going crazy with streaming services! If you find any worth mentioning, please let us know. |
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If you learn that any service above has started offering described programming, please advise the webmaster! |
* Studies as recently as May '22 continue to show that the dominant player in the fee streaming video market is Netflix (23% of market share). The other are: Amazon's Prime Video (19%), HBO Max (14%), Disney+(13%), Hulu (11%), Apple+ (5%), Paramount+ (4%), and 11% for "other" services. Read: the JustWatch Streaming Report.
The following information was originally supplied by ADP Media Committee member Timothy Wynn in October 2018 based on his experimentation with YouTube TV and has been updated with additional user input several times since then. All information here is, of course, subject to change. Please submit your own experience to the webmaster.
See also: Cutting the Cable Cord with YouTube TV (AFB, April 2021)
AD access method:
Broadcast networks:
Non-broadcast networks:
Miscellaneous: