ISO/IEC 20071-20:2025

Information technology — User interface component accessibility — Part 20: Developing audiovisual content

This document provides requirements and recommendations on the development of accessible audiovisual content. It provides requirements and recommendations for a variety of different accessibility components, dealt with in further detail in additional parts of the ISO 20071 series, that meet different user accessibility needs. It also provides guidance related to translations, localizations, timing, importance and other general aspects of the creation of these accessibility components. This document does not apply to the presentation devices or transmission mechanisms used to deliver audiovisual content. These devices could include, but are not limited to, televisions, computers, wireless devices, projection equipment, DVD and home cinema equipment, video game consoles, or any similar devices which use displays for visual presentation and other forms of user interface technology. This document does not apply to transcoding files and formats for the various audiovideo outputs. This document helps to improve accessibility. This document does not establish requirements for specific industries (e.g. television broadcasting, motion pictures) nor is it intended to supersede specific international standards within their domain.

Technologies de l'information — Accessibilité du composant interface utilisateur — Partie 20: Développement de contenu audiovisuel

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2025
• ICS: 35.240.20 - IT applications in office work
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35 - User interfaces
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35 - User interfaces
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 01-Jul-2025
• Due Date: 11-Sep-2026
• Completion Date: 01-Jul-2025

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO/IEC 20071-20
First edition
Information technology — User
2025-07
interface component accessibility —
Part 20:
Developing audiovisual content
Technologies de l'information — Accessibilité du composant
interface utilisateur —
Partie 20: Développement de contenu audiovisuel
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative References . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Content and content components .2
3.2 Information and importance .4
3.3 Descriptors of content .4
4 Developing accessible audiovisual content . 5
4.1 General .5
4.2 Providing visual alternatives to audio information .5
4.3 Providing audio alternative to visual information .5
4.4 Providing an alternative to visual text .6
4.5 Providing information in a language that the user understands .6
4.6 Providing information that supports understanding .6
4.7 Controlling the use of accessibility components .6
4.7.1 Choosing accessibility components .6
4.7.2 Interacting with audiovisual content at one's own pace .7
5 Translations and localizations . 7
5.1 Translating or localizing accessibility content.7
5.2 Intended presentation style of translations .7
6 Timing and importance of information. 7
6.1 Timing considerations .7
6.1.1 Real time considerations .7
6.1.2 Synchronization .8
6.1.3 Optional extended time considerations . .8
6.2 Levels of importance .8
6.2.1 General .8
6.2.2 Essential information .8
6.2.3 Significant information .9
6.2.4 Helpful information .9
6.2.5 Unhelpful information .9
7 Creating accessibility components . 9
7.1 Developing accessibility components .9
7.2 Important skills for creators of accessibility components .9
7.3 Content genre and program category .10
7.4 Scripting .10
7.5 Inclusion of typical users in the process of creating accessibility content .10
7.6 Evaluation .10
7.7 Evaluations including contribution of typical users .10
Bibliography .11

© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity.
ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC have not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held
responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 35, User interfaces.
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 20071 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.

© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
Audiovisual content is used for a wide variety of purposes and in a wide variety of settings. People often
encounter a variety of audiovisual content in a typical day. The multimodal and multimedia nature of
audiovisual content presents an array of accessibility challenges to diverse users in diverse contexts.
This document provides guidance on the development of accessible audiovisual content, regardless of the
means of distributing or presenting this content. It identifies various types of accessibility components and
provides general guidance on their creation and use to meet various user accessibility needs. It recognizes
that diverse users in diverse contexts can have different user accessibility needs that can be best met by
different combinations of these accessibility components.
The use of this document helps to support universal and inclusive audiovisual content production practices.
It provides guidance for producers, exhibitors, or distributors of audiovisual content (including the medium
of distribution and the medium of delivery) to support the accessibility and usability of the information in
their content.
The creation and delivery of accessibility components based on the guidance in this document is not intended
to interfere with or change the meaning of the source content, or the freedom of speech, expression, or
opinion of rights holders. The intent of this document is to provide diverse users in diverse settings with
accessible audiovisual content.

© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
v
International Standard ISO/IEC 20071-20:2025(en)
Information technology — User interface component
accessibility —
Part 20:
Developing audiovisual content
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and recommendations on the development of accessible audiovisual
content.
It provides requirements and recommendations for a variety of different accessibility components, dealt
with in further detail in additional parts of the ISO 20071 series, that meet different user accessibility needs.
It also provides guidance related to translations, localizations, timing, importance and other general aspects
of the creation of these accessibility components.
This document does not apply to the presentation devices or transmission mechanisms used to deliver
audiovisual content. These devices could include, but are not limited to, televisions, computers, wireless
devices, projection equipment, DVD and home cinema equipment, video game consoles, or any similar devices
which use displays for visual presentation and other forms of user interface technology. This document does
not apply to transcoding files and formats for the various audiovideo outputs.
This document helps to improve accessibility. This document does not establish requirements for specific
industries (e.g. television broadcasting, motion pictures) nor is it intended to supersede specific international
standards within their domain.
2 Normative References
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 20071-5, Information technology — User interface component accessibility — Part 5: Accessible user
interfaces for accessibility settings on information devices
ISO/IEC/TS 20071-21, Information technology — User interface component accessibility — Part 21: Guidance
on audio descriptions
ISO/IEC 20071-23, Information technology — User interface component accessibility — Part 23: Visual
presentation of audio information (including captions and subtitles)
ISO/IEC 30071-1:2019, Information technology — Development of user interface accessibility — Part 1: Code of
practice for creating accessible ICT products and services
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp

© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 Content and content components
3.1.1
audiovisual content
content that includes audio and visual components
Note 1 to entry: Only the audio or the visual components can be active at some times within the presentation of
audiovisual content.
3.1.2
accessibility component
component that provides a particular type of accessibility feature or service
3.1.3
content
interactive or non-interactive object containing information represented by text, image, video, sound or
other media
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC/IEEE 23026:2023, 3.1.5]
3.1.4
accessibility content
content provided by an accessibility component
Note 1 to entry: Accessibility content is delivered by an accessibility component, e.g. captions, subtitles, audio
description, audio subtitles, and is differentiated from the ICT’s interface accessibility.
3.1.5
main content
audiovisual content that accessibility content is being added to
3.1.6
visual content
information presented visually
3.1.7
audio content
auditory content
information presented auditorially
3.1.8
video
combination of auditory and visual content intended to be presented together in a synchronized manner
3.1.9
non-speech information
NSI
part of the audio content, other than spoken words
EXAMPLE Speaker identification information (e.g. off-screen speakers and multiple on-screen speakers), sound
effects, music (e.g. singing, background music, instrumentation), manner of speaking (e.g. whispering, emotion, word
emphasis), audience reaction (e.g. laughing, groaning, booing).
Note 1 to entry: NSI can convey information about: plot, humour, mood, or meaning of a spoken passage.

© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
3.1.10
caption
transcription of audio content, visually presented together with the content in the language of the
audiovisual content
Note 1 to entry: Captions include speech and non-speech information.
Note 2 to entry: Captions are often suitable for use as an alternative or a complement to the audio content.
Note 3 to entry: In some countries, captions are called “subtitles for the deaf or hard of hearing (SDH)”.
3.1.11
subtitle
translation of spoken content, visually presented together with the content in a language other than the
source language of the audiovisual content
Note 1 to entry: Subtitles assume the viewer can hear but cannot understand the language of the spoken content or the
speech is not entirely clear.
Note 2 to entry: Subtitles can be used to transcribe on-screen text written in the source language.
Note 3 to entry: In some countries, captions (3.1.10) are called “subtitles”. Dialogue-only subtitles differ from captions
in that captions convey not only the content of spoken dialogue but also equivalents for non-speech information
needed to understand the audiovisual content (see ISO/IEC 40500).
Note 4 to entry: Subtitles can include non-speech information.
3.1.12
audio description
descriptive audio
audiovisual content described in an audio modality
Note 1 to entry: Audio description can also be used to describe locations, directions, and objects.
Note 2 to entry: Audio description can be used to describe sound not easily identified or coming from an unknown
source or location.
3.1.13
audio subtitles
subtitles on audiovisual content that are read aloud and spoken over the audio in subtitled audiovisual content
3.1.14
source language
language in which audiovisual content is initially produced
3.1.15
dubbing
secondary audio version of a video produced in a language other than the source language of the video and
timed to match the voicing of the original actors
Note 1 to entry: The secondary audio version is lip-synchronized and replaces the original dialogue, which cannot be heard.
3.1.16
voice-over
seco
...