Provide a Comprehensive Text Alternative for Prerecorded Media
An alternative for time-based media (like a detailed transcript or synchronized text/audio description document) must be provided for all prerecorded synchronized media and for all prerecorded audio-only media.
Why It Matters
This provides a comprehensive text-based alternative that captures all information (audio and visual) from the media. It benefits users who are deaf-blind, those who prefer reading, users who need to search the content, and situations where playing media is not feasible. It combines the requirements for transcripts (1.2.1) and descriptions (1.2.3/1.2.5) into a single, complete alternative document.
Fixing the Issue
Create a single document (e.g., an HTML page) that includes:
- All spoken dialogue, with speaker identification.
- Descriptions of all meaningful non-speech sounds.
- Descriptions of all important visual information (actions, settings, characters, on-screen text).
- The descriptions should be placed logically within the transcript to reflect the timing and context of the original media. Provide a prominent link to this media alternative near the media player.
Good Code Example
Linking to a full media alternative document:
-
<video controls width="640" height="360" poster="video-poster.jpg"> <source src="main-video.mp4" type="video/mp4"> <track label="English Captions" kind="captions" srclang="en" src="captions_en.vtt" default> <track label="English Audio Description" kind="descriptions" srclang="en" src="description_en.vtt"> Your browser doesn't support embedded videos. </track></track></source><p> <a href="full-media-alternative.html">View Text Alternative (includes dialogue, sound, and visual descriptions)</a> </p></video>
Bad Code Example
Providing only captions or standard AD, but no single comprehensive alternative:
-
<video controls width="640" height="360" src="main-video.mp4"> <track label="English Captions" kind="captions" srclang="en" src="captions_en.vtt"> <track label="English Audio Description" kind="descriptions" srclang="en" src="description_en.vtt"> </video>

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