INDUSTRIES, MEDIA | AGCOM releases guidelines on accessibility of AVMS for people with disabilities

On 18 December 2025, the Italian Communications Authority (AGCOM) issued Resolution 291/25/CONS (Resolution), setting out the general principles that audiovisual media service providers (AVMS providers) must comply with when drafting their accessibility strategy for people with visual or hearing disability pursuant to Article 31 of Italian AVMS Regulation.

Pursuant to Italian AVMS Regulation, both linear and non-linear AVMS providers are required to independently develop an accessibility action plan at least every three years, in line with the principles defined by AGCOM, and to report periodically on its implementation. The Resolution identifies minimum accessibility standards that providers must ensure. Notably, AVMS providers must ensure the availability of accessibility tools – including subtitles, audio description and Italian sign language interpretation – for a minimum share of their programming, as defined in the broadcasting quotas set out in their respective action plans.

When planning accessible content, AVMS providers are required to give priority to news and information programmes, content aimed at minors and audiovisual works released within the last five years. Moreover, emergency information must always be fully accessible to people with disabilities.

For the initial application of this Resolution, the accessibility measures shall not apply to AVMS providers whose advertising revenues amount to less than ten million euros in each of the last two financial years. Where several companies belong to the same group, the latter economic criterion shall be assessed on the basis of the revenues of the group as a whole. Accessibility measures shall also not apply to local AVMS providers, pay TV AVMS providers, radio broadcasters, or radio media service providers whose offerings also include audiovisual content.

According to the Resolution, accessibility action plans must be submitted to AGCOM by 31 December 2025 and will apply as from January 2026. The Resolution also sets the timeline for ongoing reporting obligations towards the Authority. In addition, AGCOM announced the establishment of a dedicated contact point for information requests and the implementation of a monitoring system to oversee compliance.

Newsletter n. 114 – January 2026