[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 88075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27954]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[MB Docket No. 11-43; DA 23-1119; FRS 190156]


Audio Description: Preliminary Nonbroadcast Network Rankings

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: FCC announces the top national nonbroadcast network rankings 
from the 2022-2023 ratings year, and gives networks the opportunity to 
seek exemption from the July 1, 2024 update to the Commission's audio 
description requirements.

DATES: Exemption requests are due January 19, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Filings should be submitted electronically in MB Docket No. 
11-43 by accessing the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System 
(ECFS) at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Filers should follow the 
instructions provided on the website for submitting filings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Diana 
Sokolow (202-418-0588; [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Media Bureau's 
Public Notice, DA 23-1119, released on November 30, 2023. The full text 
of this public notice will be available electronically in ASCII, 
Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat via ECFS. Alternative formats are 
available for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), by sending an email to [email protected] 
or calling the Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 
(202) 418-0530 (voice), 1-844-4-FCC-ASL (1-844-432-2275) (videophone).

Synopsis

    The Commission's audio description rules require multichannel video 
programming distributor (MVPD) systems that serve 50,000 or more 
subscribers to provide 87.5 hours of audio description \1\ per calendar 
quarter on channels carrying each of the top five national nonbroadcast 
networks.\2\ The top five national nonbroadcast networks are defined by 
an average of the national audience share during prime time among 
nonbroadcast networks that reach 50 percent or more of MVPD households 
and have at least 50 hours per quarter of prime time programming that 
is not live or near-live or otherwise exempt under the audio 
description rules.
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    \1\ Audio description makes video programming accessible to 
individuals who are blind or visually impaired through ``[t]he 
insertion of audio narrated descriptions of a television program's 
key visual elements into natural pauses between the program's 
dialogue.'' 47 CFR 79.3(a)(3).
    \2\ The rule requires that 50 hours per calendar quarter be 
provided in prime time or during children's programming, while the 
additional 37.5 hours may be provided at any time between 6 a.m. and 
11:59 p.m. local time.
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    In accordance with the Commission's rules, the list of top five 
nonbroadcast networks is updated at three year intervals to account for 
changes in ratings, and the fourth triennial update will occur on July 
1, 2024, based on the 2022 to 2023 ratings year.\3\ According to data 
provided by the Nielsen Company, for the purposes of our requirements, 
the top ten nonbroadcast networks for the 2022 to 2023 ratings year 
are: Fox News Channel, ESPN, MSNBC, HGTV, Hallmark, TLC, TNT, TBS, 
Discovery, and History.
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    \3\ The nonbroadcast networks currently subject to the audio 
description requirements are TLC, HGTV, Hallmark, History, and TBS. 
We note that the Media Bureau granted TBS a limited waiver of 
section 79.3(b)(4) of the audio description rules for the triennial 
period beginning on July 1, 2021 and ending on June 30, 2024.
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    If a program network believes it should be excluded from the list 
of top five networks covered by the audio description requirements 
because it does not air at least 50 hours per quarter of prime time 
programming that is not live or near-live or is otherwise exempt, it 
must seek an exemption no later than 30 days after publication of this 
Public Notice in the Federal Register. The Media Bureau will promptly 
evaluate requests for exemption and will provide notice of any 
resulting revisions to the list.

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2023-27954 Filed 12-19-23; 8:45 am]
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