Since the rise of #audiodescription in multiple languages, I've always wondered: do streaming platforms use #ADtemplates, in other words are AD scripts translated from English - or do they create them from scratch for each language?

A recent study by Alejandro Romero Muñoz sheds some light onto this question.

The analysis compares the audio descriptions (AD) in English and Spanish for series across major streaming platforms. It highlights a key distinction between platforms that use an AD template and those that translate AD directly from English.

👉 On Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ (Sky Rojo, Élite, The Wheel of Time, The Rings of Power, The Clearing, and Great Expectations), the English and Spanish ADs are created independently using the same guidelines. This conclusion is based on:
- Distinct message gaps: The ADs are placed at different times in the show.
- Varied information: Each language includes culturally and contextually appropriate details.
- No calques: The Spanish ADs avoid direct copying from English, ensuring natural and localized descriptions.

👉 Apple TV+ (Truth Be Told and Lisey’s Story) appears to rely on translation from English ADs (template based). The following clues were used to reach this conclusion:
- Identical message gaps: Both languages use the same timing for ADs.
- Matching content and structure: The Spanish AD closely mirrors the English version, with little linguistic or cultural adaptation.