Accessible on demand and video streaming services

Below will be a list of online video streaming services that serve New Zealand. It will note also if a screen reader can be used with it, and on which platform. This may be through a website or a mobile app (on either the Android or Apple mobile phones) using a screen reader.

Disclaimer

These are the providers that we have found accessible - unless things have changed with a screen reader.  We are hoping to add more streaming providers to this list when we (or someone else who has tested it) find that they are accessible with a screen reader. The following information is subject to change.

For the services that have audio description, the AD will need to be enabled on that platform within the player. (For example, in Netflix you have to go to the player and enable it under the audio settings).

Netflix

The website address is http://www.netflix.com
The website is very usable with a screen reader. The Android app is very usable with TalkBack.
It has a lot of audio described content.
Netflix is a paid subscription.

Disney Plus

The website address is http://www.disneyplus.com
The website is very usable with a screen reader. The Android app is very usable with the TalkBack screen reader.
This is also usable on an iPhone, iPad and an Apple TV.
It also has audio described content.
Disney Plus is a paid subscription.

Amazon prime video

The website address is https://www.primevideo.com/?ref_=dvm_pds_amz_NZ_kc_s_g|c_231819500067_m_T2F1tPD7-dc_s__
The website is very usable with a screen reader. The Android app is also very usable with the TalkBack screen reader.
Amazon prime video / TV is also accessible on Apple's IOS / iPad OS and Apple TV platforms. 
It also has audio described content.
Amazon prime video is a paid subscription.

Apple TV plus

The website address is https://www.apple.com/nz/apple-tv-plus/
Apple TV plus is great for accessibility and content. It can be viewed on any Apple device - be it a Mac OS computer or IOS or iPad OS device. When watching movies, if Voiceover is enabled on your IOs device, and if the movie has audio description, it will start playing automatically (if the AD setting is enabled under accessibility/settings).
It also has audio description.
Apple TV plus is a paid subscription.

You tube

The website address is https://www.youtube.com/
The you tube website is very usable with a screen reader.
The Android app is very usable with the TalkBack screen reader on an Android phone. It can also be used on smart TV's.
There is some audio described content, but you will need to search for it.
You tube is free.

TubiTV

You can watch the offerings from Tubi by going to their website at https://tubitv.com/home
On the website, most single letter navigation keys can be used, however you will use H for headings and K for links. Graphics are not spoken out. There are some labelled buttons and a few that are not. Some movies will play automatically (depending on the browser that you are using). Some movies will need to be activated by pressing Enter on the heading of the movie. If not, arrow up once and press Enter. (This is a play button which is not spoken out). When the player does appear, some parts will let you interact with it (like screen resolution). The player is not fully accessible.

They also have apps for either your Android or Apple phone. It is very useable with either the Talkback screen reader or the Voiceover screen reader on those devices. The app for the TV is also very useable with a screen reader. On a Samsung TV there might not be some sections spoken out (as in the movie/shows section) but it can be accessed via the Genre section. This seems to be the same for the app version.

TVNZ on demand

The website address is https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows
On the TVNZ website, the TVNZ on demand section is not usable with a screen reader at present. After you sign into the on demand section where your shows, movies etc are listed - the screen reader will only read out new season, movie etc instead of the name of the show/movie. It used to be read out correctly before. If you decide to say... pick a new season show or movie - not knowing what it is - the page after it is fully accessible. It looks as though no alt text was used for the movie/show graphics where they are listed.
The Android app is not usable with TalkBack as only some parts are spoken out. Until it is fixed by TVNZ on demand, you can use the Google browser and enable get image descriptions from Google menu and choose always. You can get to this menu by using the applications key. NVDA will then speak out the name of the shows on the main page; then you can go in and watch that show. The page where the shows are aired weekly, is totally accessible - so you can watch your shows. Please note when get image descriptions is turned off in the browser that part of the website where the shows is on the main page is not read out correctly. It will not work in other browsers either in that section and will only read new season, movie etc.
There is no audio description.
TVNZ on demand is free.

Three now

The website address is https://www.threenow.co.nz/login
The website is usable with a screen reader. The Android app is very usable with the TalkBack screen reader. Please note, for some reason, the shows are not spoken out until you go to do a search on the app. It will give you a list of channels and categories; then after you pick one, it will give you some options (which are all spoken out as in show, movies etc). If you choose the categories section, all the shows will be spoken out as you go down the list. The channels and settings sections are also spoken out.
The TV3 app is very usable on the phone (IOS and Apple TV).
Voiceover works great with it.
There is no audio described content.
Three now is free.

Māori Television On Demand

The link to the website is https://www.maoritelevision.com/on-demand/featured
The website is usable with a screen reader.
After signing up for a new account, (at the bottom of the form) you will need to check the box to say you are not a robot. You will then need to pass a captcha. It will need to be verified before you can register a new account.
There is no audio described content.
Māori Television On Demand is free.

Choice on demand

The website address is https://www.choicetv.co.nz/#!/
The website is usable with a screen reader.
Apart from a little extra information being read out (which should be hidden so it is not spoken out by a screen reader) it is very usable.
This relates to code that should be hidden.
There is no audio described content.
Choice on demand is free.

HGTV On Demand

The link to the website is https://www.hgtv.co.nz/#!/signup
The website is usable with a screen reader.
Some buttons are labelled correctly. Even though you can jump down by buttons, you will only hear the word "button", so jump down by links then the show will say its name with "link"..."button". At times you will hear code spoken out which should be hidden.
There is no audio description.
HGTV on demand is free.

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