Apple is adding sign language interpretation to the Apple TV app. From Friday, November 13, you’ll be able to watch supported Apple Original movies with a signer onscreen, in American Sign Language (ASL) or British Sign Language (BSL). It’s a free feature for Apple TV subscribers, and it launches alongside the global streaming premiere of Being Heumann.
An interpreter in the corner of your screen
When you switch it on, a sign language interpreter appears in a small window alongside the movie, so you can follow the signing and the action at the same time. Apple says each performance is designed and tested by Deaf and native signers and tailored to the film it interprets. That’s not just someone reading the script aloud with their hands.
Daniel Durant, who appears in Being Heumann, directed that film’s sign language interpretation. He said the work took a lot of care to make sure “every translation captured the emotion and meaning of the story.”
Which movies support it
The launch lineup is small. Being Heumann, a film based on the true story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, gets sign language interpretation from day one. So does F1, which Apple confirms will have both ASL and BSL.
Way of the Warrior Kid and Greyhound will follow later this year, and Apple says more Apple Original titles are on the way. Supported titles carry a Sign Language icon, so you can tell at a glance whether the option is available.
How to turn it on
This takes two steps. First, turn on the Sign Language option in the Apple TV app’s settings. Apple hasn’t spelled out the exact menu yet, so look for it in the app’s settings once the feature arrives on Friday. Once it’s on, a Sign Language button appears while you’re watching a supported title. Press it to bring up the interpreter.
To find titles that support it, use search with simple phrases like “with ASL.” There’s also a new “Movies & Shows with American Sign Language” collection in the Apple TV app. Apple says it will gather titles with sign language interpretation in one place as more streaming services offer it.
Being Heumann premieres the same day
Being Heumann stars Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann, who in 1977 helped organize a sit-in in San Francisco with more than 100 disability rights protesters. It’s written and directed by Siân Heder, who also made CODA, the first film with a predominantly Deaf cast to win the Best Picture Oscar. You can add it to your watchlist in the Apple TV app now.
What it means for you
If you or someone you watch with is Deaf or uses sign language, this is worth trying. Captions are useful, but they’re not the same as watching a story in your own language. Apple TV is the latest streaming service to try this. Right now it’s a handful of films rather than the whole catalog, so think of it as a promising start.
If you already subscribe, there’s nothing to buy. Just look for the Sign Language setting on Friday and start with Being Heumann or F1. Apple hasn’t said exactly which devices support the feature, so check on the screen you watch on most.
Sign language interpretation arrives in the Apple TV app on Friday, November 13, at no extra cost for subscribers. Apple TV costs $14.99 per month in the US, with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Apple’s announcement doesn’t include a UK price. For a limited time, buying and activating a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac gets you three months of Apple TV free. You can read the full details in Apple’s announcement.
