Television in sign language

The topic of accessible television is becoming increasingly important today - and in this context also television in sign language.

Find out below what options deaf people have to use sign language on television, what services are already available and how to switch on sign language on television.

Sign language briefly explained

Sign language is a visual, natural language. In contrast to spoken language, however, it is not communicated with sounds or words, but with gestures, i.e. hand signals, gestures, facial expressions and mouth movements.

Sign language is used by deaf and hard of hearing people to communicate with each other and with hearing people. In Germany alone, German Sign Language (DGS) is used by around 250,000 people.

Find out more about learning sign language here.

Why television in sign language?

All people, regardless of their mental or physical abilities, should have equal access to information and entertainment. This applies to all areas of life, including television.

Many TV channels, streaming providers and the like are therefore already promoting accessibility. Accessible television is implemented with the help of various technologies, including subtitles, plain language-settings and sign language translations.

Unfortunately, the latter are still the exception rather than the rule.

How does television in sign language work?

Basically, it's quite simple: when watching television in sign language, a sign language interpreter translates what is said and shown into sign language. The interpreter can usually be seen in a small extra picture on the large TV screen.

These visual translations are either recorded before the film, program, etc. is broadcast, or they take place live during the broadcast, for example at televised sporting events. This is particularly challenging for sign language interpreters as they cannot prepare for their work.

As there are regional differences and dialects in German Sign Language, as there are in spoken language, a more "general" combination of sign language and lip movements is often used on television so that as many people as possible can understand it.

Requirements for television in sign language: HbbTV

Only a few TV channels offer sign language translations in live programs. However, there are other options for television in sign language, for example via HbbTV. HbbTV stands for "Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV" - a technology that combines television and the internet to offer interactive services via the TV set. These include, for example, media libraries, video-on-demand and streaming services or the sign language function - provided it is offered by the desired broadcaster for the respective program.

To switch on television in sign language, you first need an HbbTV-enabled television or an HbbTV-enabled receiver. This includes, for example, modern smart TVs that have an internet connection or so-called set-top boxes, such as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, etc.

Some programs with sign language translation can also be found in the various TV station media libraries or can be watched online via livestream.

Switching television on/off in sign language

To switch on sign language on TV with HbbTV, you must first check whether your TV set supports HbbTV. If not, there are, as already mentioned, a few alternatives.

How to switch on sign language with HbbTV:

  • Switch on your TV and make sure that it is connected to the Internet.
  • Now make sure that the HbbTV function of your TV is activated or enable it. The HbbTV function can usually be found in the TV menu under "Settings", "Channels" or "Network".
  • Start HbbTV. To do this, first select a channel that offers HbbTV services. If the function is activated, the HbbTV symbol usually appears after a few seconds, usually a red button on the edge of the screen.
  • Press the red button or the red button on your remote control. This will launch the respective HbbTV portal.
  • Now navigate to the settings and search for "Accessibility" or directly for "Sign language". The exact name varies depending on the TV set. Then select the appropriate option for sign language and confirm your selection.

The sign language interpreter should now be displayed in a small image in the picture. Please note, however, that not all HbbTV-enabled channels also offer the sign language function.

To deactivate sign language translation again, go back to the settings and deactivate the function.

If, despite these instructions for switching sign language on and off, you still have difficulties activating it, we recommend that you consult the user manual for your TV set.

Do all channels offer television in sign language? 

No, unfortunately not all TV stations currently offer programs with sign language interpreters. One reason for this is that smaller or regional broadcasters do not have the resources.

The recording of sign language or the live broadcasting of a sign language translation is technically and financially complex. Large broadcasters such as the public broadcasters ARD, ZDF, NDR, WDR, BR and others, on the other hand, often have the resources and personnel to provide such services. They therefore play a pioneering role in the area of "accessible television".

A few years ago, Bayerischer Rundfunk launched the series "Seeing instead of hearing", which exclusively shows content using various visual means of television, for example sign language. These programs, including reports on the topics of hearing and deafness, but also on numerous other topics, are produced by BR, but are also broadcast by all other third channels (WDR, NDR, MDR, RBB, SWR, HR, etc.).

ARD also announced some time ago that from fall 2024, all new episodes of the cult crime series "Tatort" and "Polizeiruf 110", which are newly produced by the state broadcasters, will also be offered with sign language translation.

MDR's "Tatort" and "Polizeiruf" episodes have been available in sign language since 2023 . Further productions by Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) will also be made available with DGS translations.

These changes are part of the "Barrier-free Broadcasting" project , which the ARD public media network launched some time ago to support people with sensory impairments such as hearing or visual impairments as well as people who understand little or no German.

Alternatives to television in sign language

Even if the provision of sign language translations in television programs is currently still very limited, more and more broadcasters are attaching importance to accessibility.

One option that is already frequently offered as part of this is subtitles. They help both deaf and hard of hearing people to better understand the information on television. Subtitles are available in many programs and can often be activated via the TV settings.

People who suffer from hearing problems can also benefit from so-called TV hearing amplifiers. The OSKAR TV hearing amplifier from faller audio, for example, has a special speech optimization feature that amplifies speech on television and minimizes background noise.