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Channel 4 Streaming Android App Accessibility Statement

Accessibility statement for Channel 4 Streaming Android app

This accessibility statement applies to the Channel 4 Streaming Android app for mobile and tablet devices.

Channel 4 is committed to providing a streaming service that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of ability, capability or technology.

At Channel 4 we routinely check our apps - when amendments are made to existing screens and when new elements and features are released - to ensure that they meet our accessibility requirements, and we do respond positively to feedback regarding the accessibility of any of our screens or services. We aim to conform to the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C's) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to AA level, wherever possible.

This app is run by Channel 4. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this app. For example, that means:

  • Logical and consistent navigation is provided for users
  • The UI is tested to conform to colour contrast ratios as set out in WCAG guidelines.
  • We have implemented single tap interactions as an alternative to swipe gestures on the homepage. Tapping on headers within the app homepage will expand a page that can be scrolled vertically in order to view all content.
  • The app resizes text when you change text size in your device settings
  • You can navigate most of the app using just a Bluetooth keyboard
  • You can navigate the app using TalkBack screen reader
  • System inverted colours via the device settings area are supported, but compatibility with colour inversion may depend on your OS version and manufacturer. These can be checked within your device settings.
  • Search facilities have been implemented to find programmes quickly and steps are being taken to improve the Search experience for screen reader users. This will be optimised before year end 2024.
  • On the Live TV section of the app, when you are signed in, you can toggle to turn auto-playing content off within the ‘On Now’ view
  • Content can be watched with Subtitles where a speech bubble icon is displayed.
    • Most of the content on the Channel 4 Streaming Android app has the subtitles feature, including video on demand and live content.
    • Programmes can be filtered by a ‘Subtitled’ option within the Search function and within each programme category.
  • Content can be watched with Audio Description where an 'AD' icon is displayed.
    • Across the Channel 4 Streaming platforms which support Audio Description, around 40% of our programme hours have this access service, and we’re adding new titles all the time
    • The ‘Audio Described’ category can be found within the Search navigation option to navigate directly to content with this access service. Programmes can also be filtered by an ‘Audio Described’ option within each programme category.
  • We have a curated signed collection, containing some of our most popular shows with British Sign Language interpretation. This is available from the homepage or by searching the word 'signed'. Signed programmes or episodes feature a BSL icon as part of their main image. We are adding new titles to this collection all the time, as well as looking to improve the navigation to these programmes.

How accessible this app is

We know some parts of this app are not fully accessible:

  • Orientation: We are aware that the app cannot be turned into landscape mode other than during playback.
  • Bluetooth keyboard: Some limitations have been identified for users of a Bluetooth keyboard within the 'My Shows' area of the app
  • Colour: Certain areas within the app rely on colour alone to convey information.
  • Accessibility labels: There are some selectable elements present throughout the application that do not have any accessibility labels associated to them.
    • There are also some links present within the application that do not have Accessibility Labels associated to them.
    • Some form elements do not have appropriate labels.
  • Headings: There are no heading on certain screens.
    • Visual headings are not programmatically determined.
  • Inaccessible content: Content could not be accessed via keyboard or TalkBack commands
  • Swipe gestures: We are aware that the ‘Continue Watching’ area of the ‘My Shows’ section of the app relies on swipe gestures and does not yet support single tap interaction to navigate.
  • Access services: Audio Description and Subtitles/Closed captions are not currently supported on all our advertising content.

Further formation can be found in our accessibility help pages.

Feedback and contact information

You can contact our Viewer Enquiries team via one of the methods below.

  • Email us at accessibility@channel4.co.uk
  • Contact us via our phone number on 0345 076 0191 (standard local landline rate, mobile costs may differ)
  • For anyone who is Deaf, hearing or speech impaired or unable to make a voice-based call, you can also contact us during opening hours using one of the following:
  • Minicom text phone on 0345 073 0059

Our opening hours are:
Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm
Saturday 10am to 6pm
Sunday 10am to 4pm
Bank Holidays: 10am to 4pm

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in as short a time frame as possible.

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF or large print, please contact us using one of the methods above.

You may find it useful to visit the Frequently Asked Questions page on our 4Viewers website, where you will find further information on using the Channel 4 Streaming Service if you have a disability or impairment. If required, we can provide FAQ information via a Word or Excel document. Please get in touch via our contact us form, or email us - accessibility@channel4.co.uk - to arrange this.

Reporting accessibility problems with this app

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of our streaming service. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact us by using one of the methods above under the ‘Feedback and contact information’ section.

You can also write to us at Channel 4 Enquiries, PO Box 1058, Belfast. BT1 9DU or contact us on X (formerly Twitter), find our account @4Viewers here -> 4Viewers (@4Viewers) / X (twitter.com)

Technical information about this app’s accessibility

Channel 4 is committed to making its streaming service accessible, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Compliance status
This app is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Missing Markup
We are aware that there are multiple selectable elements present throughout the application that do not have any accessibility roles associated to them. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value).

Link Markup
We are aware that there are links present throughout the application that do not have any accessibility labels associated to them. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value).

No Headings Present
We are aware that there are no headings on some pages. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criteria 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships), 2.4.1 (Bypass Blocks) and 2.4.10 (Understanding Section Headings).

Visual Headings
We are aware that visual headings are not programmatically determined on the homepage and in settings. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships).

Form elements do not have labels
We are aware that some form elements on the settings page and video player do not have labels. This fails WCAG criteria 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) and 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value).

Inaccessible content
We are aware that on some devices, the slider on the video player can be difficult to interact with when TalkBack is activated. In the event that this occurs, this fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.5.1 (Pointer Gestures).

Non-descriptive forms
We are aware that the colour used to indicate when an element has received focus does not meet the expected ratio to meet WCAG 2.1 when watching some content on the video player. This fails WCAG 2.1 criterion 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels).

Pointer Gestures
We are aware that the ‘Continue Watching’ area of the ‘My Shows’ section of the app relies on swipe gestures and does not yet support single tap interaction to navigate. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.5.1 (Pointer Gestures).

Disproportionate burden

Orientation
We are aware that the app cannot be turned into landscape mode other than during playback. Page content is also restricted to being viewed in portrait orientation, and does not comply with WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.4 (Orientation). This is a known issue affecting Channel 4 mobile applications.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility
In order to offer and maintain high standards of accessibility on our streaming service, the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC) have reviewed this app against WCAG 2.1 Guidelines in August 2022.

The app is constantly being improved in response to accessibility issues which have been raised via this audit and through other sources such as user feedback and research.

A follow up re-test by the DAC is planned before year end 2024.

For more information about Digital Accessibility Centre accessibility auditing, please visit the Digital Accessibility Centre website (opens in new window).

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared June 2019. It was last reviewed on 22nd August 2024.

Every section of the Channel 4 Android app Streaming service was tested against WCAG 2.1 Guidelines, with the exception of the end of playback experience, which has since been reviewed against WCAG 2.2 Guidelines.