Provide captions on subscription TV

If a subscription TV licensee transmits a program on 2 subscription TV channels at the same time and the program is captioned on one of the channels, the program must also be captioned on the other channel.

If a subscription TV licensee transmits an emergency warning at the request of an emergency service agency on a subscription TV service, they must transmit the whole emergency warning in text and speech, and caption the warning where practical.

The targets depend on the category of program. Some targets start low and increase each year until they reach 100%.

If you broadcast a TV program with captions on any of your channels, captions must appear on any repeats broadcasts. You only need to do this for programs on the same channel.

Targets for TV movie services

Targets for general entertainment services

Targets for news, sport and music services 

Targets for sports channels

You can spread your target between your channels if the shows are supplied by the same channel provider. Each individual sports channel must caption at least two thirds of the target. You still required to meet a captioning target of at least two thirds of the existing captioning target on each individual channel.

For example: For FY 2017–18, the captioning target for a sports channel is 30%. If a subscription television licensee broadcast two sports channels provided by the same channel provider:

• the amount of captioned content must average at least 30% across both channels
• each of the two channels must caption at least 20% (two-thirds of 30%)
• one channel could be as high as 40% with the second channel at 20%

If you broadcast TV programs that are new to Australia, you may be excluded from the targets.

Your service may be excluded from the date you start the service until 1 July of the next financial year. That is at least one year after you start the service, up to a maximum of 2 years.

When you are no longer eligible for the new channel excluded, you need to comply with your captioning obligations, or apply for other exemptions.

Report each year that you meet the targets

Each year you must report to show us you comply with the rules. We publish these reports.

Submit your report no later than 90 days after the end of the financial year.

• read our guidance notes
• complete form CAP06

Records you must keep

Keep written records for 90 days after you submit your report to us.

Keep audiovisual records for:

• 30 days following the broadcast
• 90 days if someone complains about your captions

Format of records

We have approved the following format of captioning records under section 130ZZD of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.

A commercial TV broadcasting licensee, a national broadcaster or a subscription TV licensee that is a body corporate (a responsible person) may make and retain the following records in a variety of forms:

• written records sufficient to enable a responsible person’s compliance with Division 2 (captioning obligations of commercial television broadcasting licensees and national broadcasters) or Division 3 (captioning obligations of subscription television licensees) of Part 9D of the Act to be readily ascertained
• audio visual records sufficient to enable a responsible person’s compliance with Division 4 (caption standards) and Division 5 (emergency warnings) of Part 9D of the Act to be readily ascertained

If we request any records retained by a responsible person under section 130ZZD of the Act (whether or not the minimum period for retaining the records has passed), the responsible person must make available the records in a readily ascertainable format.

If you have any queries or need further information about record keeping and the form of compliance records for captioning, please email captioning@acma.gov.au.