NBCU to Expand Accessibility Efforts to Record Levels of Summer Olympics

Paris Olympics
(Image credit: Getty Images)

STAMFORD, Conn.—NBCUniversal has laid out its plans for making the Olympic Games Paris 2024 more accessible to more viewers than ever before with enhanced closed captioning, expanded audio description, and improved digital content accessibility.

Closed captioning, which provides text of the coverage audio for viewers who are Deaf or hard of hearing, will be available for all Olympic events airing across NBCU’s broadcast and cable networks. NBCUniversal will also provide closed captioning for all digital live streams with commentary across Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

In addition, it will be providing more audio description services – interspersing broadcast audio with skilled voices describing Olympic scenes and context – for viewers who are blind or visually impaired for the Paris Olympics than any previous Games. 

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, the company reported. 

Additionally, 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. To easily find all events with audio description, click here.

“We’re excited to provide all viewers with more accessibility to our Olympics coverage than ever before,” said Gary Zenkel, president, NBC Olympics. “With the goal of enabling all viewers to enjoy the unprecedented excitement of the Olympic Games in Paris, we’re proud to provide closed captioning on all live coverage and the most audio description ever.”

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.

“For over a decade, Comcast NBCUniversal has been committed to connecting people to moments that matter,” said Tom Wlodkowski, vice president of accessibility at Comcast. “NBCUniversal’s accessible coverage for this year’s Olympic Games is an important part of our mission. As a consumer of Olympics programming with audio description, I could not be more excited to share in the joy that these Paris Summer Games will bring.”

CATEGORIES
George Winslow

George Winslow is the senior content producer for TV Tech. He has written about the television, media and technology industries for nearly 30 years for such publications as Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and TV Tech. Over the years, he has edited a number of magazines, including Multichannel News International and World Screen, and moderated panels at such major industry events as NAB and MIP TV. He has published two books and dozens of encyclopedia articles on such subjects as the media, New York City history and economics.

Read more
Young people watching sports
Sponsored: NBC Airs NextGen TV Coverage of Olympics for First Time in Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
NBC Sports microphone at English Premier League game
Olympics, NFL Give NBC Sports Its Best Year Since 2016
Comcast NBCUniversal and Olympic rings
Comcast Inks $3 Billion Deal to Extend U.S. Rights to Olympic Games to 2036
FCC seal
FCC Media Bureau Sets Aug. 1, 2026, Closed Captioning Compliance Deadline
Comcast enhanced 4K
Comcast To Deliver First-Ever Super Bowl Feed in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
NBC Studios in New York
NBCU Kicks Off Road to Network’s 100th Anniversary With New Ad Capabilities, Data
Latest in Sports
Ateliere Live interface for sports
Ateliere to Debut TAMS Replay Capability at 2025 NAB Show
ESPN data on viewing of women's basketball, second highest
ESPN Platforms Scores Strong Ratings for NCAA Women’s Tournament
Root Sports app
Root Sports Launches New Seattle Mariners Streaming App
NCAA
ESPN Men’s Tournament Challenge Sets New Record with 24.4 Million Brackets
NEP's Supershooter 64 is the newest addition of NEP units designed for remote productions.
NEP Expands Fleet of New Mobile Units Designed for Remote Productions
Young people watching sports
Sponsored: NBC Airs NextGen TV Coverage of Olympics for First Time in Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
Latest in News
Ateliere Live interface for sports
Ateliere to Debut TAMS Replay Capability at 2025 NAB Show
FCC meeting room lobby
FCC Launches Proceeding on GPS Alternatives
8K Association
8K Association To Present Panel, Demo Workflows At 2025 NAB Show
Diversified offices in Plano, Texas
Diversified introduces Atlas Orchestrate Cloud Deployment Platform
Chris Scheck of Lawo
2025 NAB Show Exhibitor Insight: Lawo
Youtube
DOGE Grills Public Broadcasters on Capitol Hill