Introducing extended audio descriptions: Making videos without natural pauses accessible

Audio description narrates what’s happening on screen for viewers who are blind or have low vision.

For many videos, standard audio description works well. But lectures, presentations, training videos, and procedural demonstrations often combine continuous narration with dense or changing visuals, leaving little or no time for description.

Extended audio descriptions solve this by creating the time. When there isn’t enough room, the video pauses, the description plays in full, and playback resumes—so important visual information doesn’t have to be rushed or left out.

Give viewers more complete access to visual information

When an extended description is available, viewers can turn it on directly from the player. The described version pauses wherever more time is needed, plays the full description, and then continues.

If a standard audio description is also available, viewers can choose between the available descriptions from the player’s audio description menu.

For video teams, the extended version is created as a separate described version of the original within the existing audio description workflow, so they can review and publish it alongside the original content.

Make more of your video library accessible

Standard audio description can leave gaps when content doesn’t contain natural pauses. Extended audio descriptions make it possible to describe more of the content organizations already produce—from university lectures and presentations to training and instructional videos.

For organizations working toward broader accessibility, that means fewer videos left out simply because their audio leaves no room for description.

Available now in the Brightcove AI Suite

Extended audio descriptions are now available as part of the Brightcove AI Suite, alongside other AI-powered capabilities for making video more accessible, discoverable, and adaptable.

Explore the Brightcove AI Suite →