Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) is exploring new ways to make television programmes more accessible to audiences, using brainwave measurements to improve how viewers experience on-screen graphics and sound.

The Japanese broadcaster is building on its existing work in colour universal design, which aims to make captions, graphics and visual information easier to understand for viewers with different colour-vision characteristics.

Its latest initiative involves analysing brainwave measurements to better understand how audiences perceive visual and audio elements, including the readability of on-screen text and the balance of sound in television programmes. The research is intended to help TBS develop more inclusive production techniques that improve the viewing experience for a wider range of audiences, particularly in news, information programmes and sports broadcasting.

The initiative was featured in the broadcaster’s TBS Review programme on 11 October, with representatives from its Design Centre and Media Technology Division discussing the practical application of universal design in television production.

Through this work, TBS is exploring how scientific research and production technology can contribute to more accessible broadcasting, reflecting the industry’s growing focus on inclusive media experiences.