What the European Accessibility Act (EAA) Means for Your OTT App

Why now is the right time to prioritize accessibility—and how to start implementing it. 

If your business operates a streaming app or digital platform in Europe, a major regulatory deadline is approaching—and ignoring it could put your company at risk.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) went into effect on 28 June 2025, requiring all mobile apps, TV apps, and websites to meet specific accessibility standards. That means if your OTT app isn’t designed to support users with disabilities, it’s time to act.

But this isn’t just about staying compliant—it’s about doing the right thing for your users, your business, and your future.

Why This Matters

The EAA aims to make digital content and services more accessible for people with some form of disability. For digital platforms—especially in media and entertainment—this is a powerful step toward inclusion.

The law applies to a broad set of services, including:

• Streaming and OTT apps across mobile, web, and TV
• Media company websites and digital platforms offering video, editorial, or audio content
• Smart TV apps and connected device experiences
• Any digital storefronts or services related to content discovery, playback, or subscriptions

App owners are required to:

• Review and understand the EAA accessibility requirements to identify where updates are needed
• Make necessary design and UX changes across apps, websites, and digital interfaces to support assistive technologies
• Ensure accessible content creation—including adding subtitles and captions to video and audio, providing text alternatives for images, and structuring content for clarity and comprehension
• Complete a self-declaration of conformity, confirming that your service meets the applicable standards

It’s Not Just About the Law—It’s About Your Audience

Accessibility isn’t a checkbox—it’s a mindset.

Viewers with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive challenges depend on accessible features to engage with your content. And creating an inclusive experience benefits everyone: captions help viewers in noisy environments, simplified navigation aids older users, and adjustable text supports users with vision differences.

Done right, accessibility elevates your product—making it usable, enjoyable, and available to all.

Preparing for Compliance: Key Steps for App Owners

If you haven’t already started your EAA compliance plan, now is the time.

Below is a high-level checklist to help you begin evaluating your OTT app or digital platform. This is not a comprehensive guide, but it offers a starting point to understand the core principles and what’s involved.

Keep in mind:
This is not a substitute for reading and understanding the full European Accessibility Act (EAA).
As an app or service owner, you are legally responsible for ensuring compliance—including conducting a thorough audit, implementing necessary changes, and completing a self-declaration of conformity.

Here are some of the key areas to assess:

Visual Accessibility

• Clear text labels with strong contrast
• Screen reader support with properly tagged UI elements
• No reliance on color alone to convey meaning
  
  

Hearing Accessibility

• Captions/subtitles for all video and audio content
• Visual alternatives for audio alerts
  
  

Motor Accessibility

• Large tap targets (at least 44x44 dp)
• Remote and keyboard-friendly navigation
• Focus indicators that show where the user is
  
  

Cognitive Accessibility

• Simple, predictable UI and labeling
• Avoid flashing elements or unnecessary complexity
• Easy-to-understand structure and instructions
  
  

For a complete understanding of what’s required, consult the EAA directive and the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, which form the basis for most compliance criteria..

How Zapp Helps You Build Accessible OTT Apps

Building accessible apps ensures a better experience for everyone. Our platform includes a wide range of tools to help you meet accessibility standards across mobile, TV, and web platforms.

Accessibility Support  Features in Zapp

Zapp provides a flexible framework that supports accessibility requirements—but it’s important to note that compliance depends on how the app is configured and the content provided by the app owner.

Our tools help enable accessibility across platforms, but you must ensure that elements like subtitles, alt text, and navigation structures are properly implemented.

Here are some of the accessibility-supporting features available in Zapp:

• Subtitles and captions via HLS/DASH manifest
• Text alternatives for images and icons using localization and data sources
• High-contrast color support configurable by screen or theme
• Large touch targets designed into plugins and UI components
• Logical navigation flow with focus indicators for keyboard and remote use
• Localization tools that support multiple languages and regional formats
  
  

OS-Level Assistive Support

• Adjustable font sizes
• Built-in screen reader compatibility
• Color contrast support across operating systems
  
  

Optional Web Integration

• Seamless connection to UserWay, a leading accessibility monitoring tool (subscription required)
  
  

Note: While Zapp provides all the necessary tools, compliance remains the responsibility of the app owner. Be sure to audit your content, test your app, and complete your self-declaration.

With Applicaster’s Zapp platform, you have the flexibility to create custom layouts and experiences tailored to accessibility needs—so your app isn’t just compliant, but genuinely inclusive.

Now is the time to prepare. Start your accessibility journey today—and build apps that everyone can enjoy.