Was ist Klare Sprache im Fernsehen?

Klare Sprache ist eine zusätzliche Tonspur der öffentlich-rechtlichen Sender, die seit Juni 2022 zu vielen Sendungen bereitsteht. Eine künstliche Intelligenz trennt die Stimmen vom übrigen Filmton, senkt Musik und Nebengeräusche ab und erzeugt daraus eine sprachbetonte Mischung. Sie läuft parallel zum normalen Ton und lässt sich im Audiomenü des Fernsehers auswählen.

Bei welchen Sendern gibt es Klare Sprache?

Klare Sprache bieten Das Erste und die dritten Programme der ARD sowie ZDF, ZDFneo, ZDFinfo, 3sat und KiKA an. Auch ARTE stellt über arte.tv sprachoptimierte Fassungen bereit. Bei privaten Sendern, Streamingdiensten und anderen Quellen ist die Tonspur nicht verfügbar.

Wie aktiviert man Klare Sprache am Fernseher?

Die Tonspur wird über das Audiomenü des Fernsehers oder Receivers ausgewählt, meist unter Tonspur, Audiosprache oder Sprachoptionen. Der genaue Weg ist je nach Gerät unterschiedlich und nicht immer leicht zu finden. Am einfachsten lässt sie sich über die Live-Streams der ARD und ZDF Mediathek testen, wo Klare Sprache in den Spracheinstellungen des Players steht.

Warum gibt es Klare Sprache nicht überall?

Klare Sprache stammt von den öffentlich-rechtlichen Programmen und von ARTE und steht nur zu deren eigenen Sendungen bereit. Private Sender, Streamingdienste, Spielekonsolen oder Blu-ray liefern keine solche Tonspur. Zudem hängt es von der einzelnen Sendung und vom Empfangsweg ab, ob die Fassung angeboten wird.

Was hilft, wenn Klare Sprache nicht verfügbar ist?

Wenn ein Sender oder Dienst keine Klare Sprache anbietet, hilft eine Lösung, die unabhängig von der Quelle arbeitet. Der TV Sprachverstärker OSKAR bereitet den Ton, der am Fernseher anliegt, für verständlichere Dialoge auf und bringt ihn kabellos näher an den Sitzplatz. So können Dialoge auch bei privaten Sendern, beim Streaming oder Gaming besser verständlich werden, ohne dass der Fernseher insgesamt deutlich lauter gestellt werden muss.

Understand TV Better

Clear Speech on TV

By Faller Audio Editorial Team | Updated on July 20, 2026 | 9 Min. Read Time

Clear Speech is an additional audio track that ARD and ZDF have been offering for many programs since June 2022. Artificial intelligence separates voices from the rest of the film audio and lowers music and noises so that dialogues stand out more clearly. Clear Speech runs parallel to the normal audio and can be selected in the audio menu.

While helpful where available, this audio track quickly reaches its limits. It is primarily found on public broadcasters and ARTE, and only when the current program offers it. It is absent on private channels, streaming services, or gaming consoles. Where Clear Speech ends, a device-independent solution begins directly at the listening position.

What Clear Speech on TV is

Clear Speech is not a TV setting, but an additional audio offering provided by the broadcaster itself. It aims to alleviate a common problem: making dialogues clearer and more distinct when they are lost amidst music, effects, and atmosphere. The goal is to improve speech intelligibility. During Sunday’s “Tatort” on ARD, where gunshots and dramatic music often obscure the actors’ words, the difference becomes quickly audible. The Clear Speech option is often confused with other language modes on TVs. However, Clear Speech is different from a regular language mode, which only adjusts the existing audio on the device.

An additional audio track alongside the original

In addition to the normal audio mix, the broadcaster transmits a second, speech-focused version. In this version, voices are more prominent, while music and background noises are slightly softer. Both tracks run in parallel. You can switch between them just like with a second language version. If you don’t change anything, you will continue to hear the usual original audio. Accordingly, you must actively engage with your TV to use this option.

How the AI behind it works

Behind Clear Speech is a technology developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS called MPEG-H Dialog+. A neural network breaks down the finished audio mix, separating speech from the rest of the music, effects, and background noise. The background is only lowered when speech is actually present. Subsequently, the process reassembles everything into a new audio track where voices are more clearly in the foreground. The special thing about this is that this processing is still possible even when only the finished mix is available and no separate original tracks exist anymore.

Not to be confused with Easy Language

Clear Speech and Easy Language sound similar but mean different things. Easy Language simplifies content linguistically, with short sentences and simple words. Clear Speech does not change a single word, but only the audio mix, so that what is said is acoustically easier to understand. So, it’s about sound, not content. For broadcasters, Clear Speech is one of the accessibility features, alongside subtitles and audio description, each serving a different purpose.

Which broadcasters and sources offer Clear Speech

Unfortunately, the ability to set Clear Speech on TV channels is limited. In German television, it is primarily offered by public broadcasters, plus ARTE via arte.tv.

Public Broadcasters and ARTE

For ARD, the speech-optimized version is available on Das Erste and many third programs, such as WDR, NDR, MDR, rbb, BR, SWR, SR, and hr, as well as on tagesschau24, One, KiKA, and ARD alpha. On ZDF, viewers can select it on the main program as well as on ZDFneo, ZDFinfo, 3sat, and KiKA. ARTE offers speech-optimized versions via arte.tv. In the German program as “Klare Sprache” and in French as “Confort Audio.” The audio track is provided via the digital TV signal and the respective live streams.

Live Program and Media Library

In live programming, the audio track is particularly easy to find if it is available for the channel and the program. There, it is generated and transmitted in real-time. In media libraries and streams, availability depends more on the individual content and the respective player. Sometimes it can be selected directly in the player’s language settings. However, it is not yet available for some on-demand content. The offering is being gradually expanded.

How the audio track is received

Clear Speech can be received via satellite, cable, and partly via DVB-T2 HD, as well as in the live streams of media libraries. Via cable, availability may vary depending on the cable network operator. Whether it is actually available also depends on the specific program. If a speech-optimized version has not been produced for a program, the option will not even appear in the menu.

How to activate Clear Speech

Activation is not done via a dedicated button, but through the audio track selection, similar to switching to another language version. The exact method differs from device to device and is often not entirely intuitive.

Via the TV’s audio menu

On the TV or receiver, the path leads through the audio or audio track settings, often labeled Audio Language, Audio Channel, or Language Options. There, Clear Speech appears as an additional option, provided the current program offers it. On some devices, the selection is on a remote control button; on others, it is hidden several menu levels deep. A bit of searching is often required here.

Via HbbTV and the start bar

On some HbbTV-enabled devices, a start bar or an interactive menu can open via the red button. Depending on the broadcaster and device, the speech-optimized version can be selected directly there. This requires an HbbTV-enabled device and an existing internet connection.

Via the live streams of media libraries

If you want to quickly try out whether Clear Speech offers individual added value, the easiest way is via the live streams of the ARD and ZDF media libraries. In the player of the live broadcast, the audio track can be selected in the language settings, without having to search through menus on the TV. This is a good first test before you delve into your device’s settings.

Where Clear Speech reaches its limits

Clear Speech is a good thing and a real help in many cases. However, it only partially and limitedly solves the problem of unintelligible dialogues because it is tied to several conditions.

Only public broadcasters, not private or streaming

The biggest limitation is availability. Clear Speech is only available on public broadcasters. This means the crime drama on ARD is easier to understand, but the movie on a private channel or the series on a streaming service is not. The audio track also doesn’t help with content from gaming consoles or external players, simply because no such version is provided there.

Tied to program and reception method

Whether Clear Speech is available depends not only on the broadcaster but also on the individual program and the reception method. If a speech-optimized version has not been produced for a program, the option will not appear. For ARD and ZDF, the offering also refers to the German audio version. As soon as a foreign-language audio track is selected for a program, the speech-optimized version is not available.

The sound stays at the TV

Even where Clear Speech is available, it only improves the signal, not the path to the ear. The sound still comes from the TV’s flat speakers and must travel across the entire room to the seating position. With greater distance, in reverberant rooms, or if the TV is mounted on the wall, some of the clarity gained is lost along the way.

OSKAR: Where Clear Speech ends

Clear Speech is a sensible first step, as long as the broadcaster provides it and it is sufficient for individual requirements and needs. For everything beyond that, a solution is needed that does not depend on what program is currently playing. This is precisely where the OSKAR TV speech amplifier comes in.

What OSKAR does with TV sound

OSKAR takes the TV sound and processes it before it reaches your ears. Voices and dialogues are highlighted, while distracting background noises recede. Additionally, OSKAR wirelessly transmits the sound closer to your seating position. This means more direct sound reaches your ear, and the TV often doesn’t need to be turned up as loud for speech to remain clear.

Why OSKAR works independently of broadcaster and source

The decisive difference from the Clear Speech audio track lies in its reach and quality. The audio track is only available on some programs and only if it has been produced for the respective broadcast. OSKAR, on the other hand, works with the sound that is present at the TV, and is therefore not tied to a specific broadcaster’s audio track. Depending on the source and audio mix, OSKAR can highlight dialogues more intelligibly and bring the sound closer to the seating position, even where Clear Speech is not available at all. It has never been so easy to clearly understand dialogues on TV again.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Clear Speech on TV?

Clear Speech is an additional audio track from public broadcasters that has been available for many programs since June 2022. Artificial intelligence separates voices from the rest of the film audio, lowers music and background noises, and creates a speech-focused mix. It runs parallel to the normal audio and can be selected in the TV’s audio menu.

Which broadcasters offer Clear Speech?

Clear Speech is offered by Das Erste and ARD’s third programs, as well as ZDF, ZDFneo, ZDFinfo, 3sat, and KiKA. ARTE also provides speech-optimized versions via arte.tv. The audio track is not available on private broadcasters, streaming services, and other sources.

How do you activate Clear Speech on TV?

The audio track is selected via the TV’s or receiver’s audio menu, usually under Audio Track, Audio Language, or Language Options. The exact method varies by device and is not always easy to find. The easiest way to test it is via the live streams of the ARD and ZDF media libraries, where Clear Speech is found in the player’s language settings.

Why isn’t Clear Speech available everywhere?

Clear Speech originates from public broadcasters and ARTE and is only available for their own programs. Private broadcasters, streaming services, gaming consoles, or Blu-ray do not provide such an audio track. Furthermore, whether the version is offered depends on the individual program and the reception method.

What helps if Clear Speech is not available?

If a broadcaster or service does not offer Clear Speech, a solution that works independently of the source can help. The OSKAR TV speech amplifier processes the sound from the TV for more intelligible dialogues and wirelessly brings it closer to the seating position. This way, dialogues can become more understandable even on private channels, during streaming, or gaming, without having to significantly increase the overall TV volume.