Specialist commentators are being introduced who will audio describe Premier League players’ movements, referee signals and crowd reactions in greater detail
Blind football fans will be able to follow every kick of the game on TV with a new Sky Sports commentary service.
Specialist commentators are being introduced who will audio describe players’ movements, referee signals and crowd reactions in greater detail.
It will effectively allow blind fans to enjoy the game on telly.
The service kicks off today when Manchester United face Tottenham this afternoon and will cover around 109 Premier League games a season in future.
Sky is also introducing live subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing fans across around 210 matches.
It comes after World Sight Day this week, which aims to secure million of new new pledges around the globe to take eye health seriously with things like regular tests.
A Sky Sports spokeswoman said: “The new commentary service will add more in-depth visual detail to help fans follow player movement and positioning, referee signals, substitutions, crowd reactions, and other key moments as each match unfolds.
“The service has been tested and tailored for Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage, with feedback from representative users, accessibility specialists, and the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
“Specialist commentators experienced in working with visually impaired football supporters will provide a more continuous, radio-style description of the match while still ensuring a shared viewing experience for all viewers.”
The rollout forms part of a new accessibility partnership between Sky Media and Guinness, which extends Guinness’s sponsorship of the Premier League on Sky Sports.
After today’s big match in Manchester, Live Descriptive Audio Commentary will be available for one match per day in each gameweek.
Customers can enable Audio Description using voice control, through Settings > Accessibility, or through the on-screen options menu.
Customers can enable Live Subtitles through the options menu or accessibility settings.
The services will be available across Sky+, Sky Q, Sky Glass, Sky Stream and streaming service NOW, as well as to customers watching via Virgin Media.
The launch aligns with wider industry efforts to build accessibility into the live sports broadcast experience, helping more fans share the Premier League football experience together.