Gotham Lab provides professional audio description script writing in New York City for production companies, streaming platforms, television networks, film distributors, museums, and corporate video producers requiring FCC-compliant, CVAA-compliant, and Netflix-compliant audio description for blind and visually impaired audiences. Every audio description script is written by a human specialist — never AI-generated — and delivered with narration recording available from our in-house Midtown Manhattan studio.
Audio description script writing is a specialist discipline that requires more than good writing — it demands deep understanding of the visual medium, precise timing calibrated to dialogue gaps, adherence to ACB and DCMP style guidelines, and familiarity with the specific delivery requirements of broadcast networks, streaming platforms, and theatrical exhibition. Gotham Lab’s AD script writers combine professional writing expertise with entertainment industry knowledge and compliance training — producing scripts that meet the most demanding technical and editorial standards in the market.
Unlike freelancer platforms or general accessibility agencies, Gotham Lab provides audio description script writing as part of a complete accessibility and localization package — combining AD script production with narration recording, closed captioning, subtitling, and multilingual localization under one roof. One project manager, one quality standard, one delivery package for every accessibility and language requirement your content has.
An audio description script is the written narration track that describes essential visual elements of a film, television program, streaming series, museum exhibition, or video content to blind and visually impaired viewers during natural pauses in the dialogue. It describes actions, settings, character expressions, scene changes, onscreen text, and any visual information critical to understanding the narrative — without interpreting or editorializing.
Audio description scripts must be:
- Written to fit precisely within the dialogue gaps of the source content — not a second too long or a second too short
- Objective and descriptive — conveying what is seen, not what it means
- Prioritized — the most narratively important visual information comes first when space is limited
- Compliant with ACB (American Council of the Blind) and DCMP (Described and Captioned Media Program) style guidelines
- Timed with in/out cues referenced to the source video timecode
- Formatted for recording — delivered as a production-ready script the narrator can read directly from
Here you can find a description of the workflow involved in creating a comprehensive audio description script for the visually impaired. The usage of audio description has likely increased over the years as awareness of accessibility issues grows, and as more content providers and platforms incorporate audio description into their media.
FCC, CVAA & Netflix Audio Description Requirements
Audio description is not optional for many content producers and distributors. Multiple regulatory frameworks and platform delivery standards mandate audio description tracks for qualifying content:
FCC Requirements
The Federal Communications Commission requires the top five broadcast television networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS) and the top 60 cable networks to provide a minimum of 87.5 hours of audio-described programming per quarter. The CVAA (Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act) extended these requirements and established the framework for IP-delivered content.
Our Audio Description Script Services
Gotham Lab provides professional audio description script writing for every content type, platform, and compliance requirement. Every script is written by a human specialist and delivered production-ready.
| Service | What we deliver | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Film & documentary AD scripts | Audio description scripts for feature films, short films, and documentaries — timed to dialogue gaps, ACB and DCMP compliant, formatted for recording. DCP-ready narration track delivery available. | Get a quote |
| Television & streaming AD scripts | AD scripts for television series, streaming platform originals, and broadcast content. FCC, CVAA, and Netflix compliant formatting. All major network and platform specifications supported. | Get a quote |
| Museum & exhibition AD scripts | Audio description scripts for museum exhibitions, gallery installations, cultural institution video content, and visitor experience programming. Written by subject-matter specialists in art and cultural content. | Get a quote |
| Corporate & eLearning AD scripts | Section 508 and ADA-compliant audio description scripts for corporate video, eLearning modules, training content, and organizational communications requiring accessibility compliance. | Get a quote |
| Extended audio description | Extended audio description for content-dense programming where standard AD cannot fit within dialogue gaps — includes pause-and-describe narration scripted for content with limited natural pauses. | Get a quote |
| AD script narration recording | Professional narration recording of completed AD scripts in our in-house NYC studio. Neutral, authoritative voice talent — delivered as broadcast-ready audio file in all required formats. | View service |
| AD script translation | Translation of completed English audio description scripts into 50+ languages for multilingual AD track production — ensuring international audiences have equal visual accessibility. | Get a quote |
| Compliance review & revision | Review and revision of existing audio description scripts for compliance with current FCC, ACB, DCMP, Netflix, and platform-specific requirements. Delivered with a written compliance report. | Get a quote |
Audio Description Script Rates
Gotham Lab’s audio description script rates are competitive and transparent. Every script is written by a human specialist — never AI-generated — and delivered production-ready with timecoded cue points.
| Service | Rate | What's included | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD script writing | From $12/finished min | Human specialist writer, ACB and DCMP compliant, timecoded cue points, production-ready script formatted for narration recording | Get a quote |
| AD narration recording | From $24/finished min | Professional neutral voice talent, in-house NYC studio, audio engineering and post-production, delivery in broadcast-ready format | View service |
| Complete AD package | Contact for quote | Full AD production — script writing, compliance review, narration recording, and audio delivery in one bundled package at below-combined rate | Get a quote |
| Museum & exhibition AD scripts | Contact for quote | Priced per project — content type, exhibition length, language requirements, and delivery format specifications | Get a quote |
| Extended audio description | Contact for quote | Priced per project — content complexity, dialogue density, and extended description requirements | Get a quote |
| AD script translation | From $0.07/word | Native-speaking translator, cultural adaptation for audio delivery, production-ready format for multilingual narration recording in 50+ languages | Get a quote |
| Compliance review & revision | Contact for quote | Full script review against FCC, ACB, DCMP, Netflix, and platform-specific standards — written compliance report and revised script delivery | Get a quote |
| Rush turnaround | Contact for quote | Accelerated delivery for broadcast deadlines, platform submission windows, and time-sensitive compliance requirements | Get a quote |
Why Choose Gotham Lab for Audio Description Scripts?
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| Why Gotham Lab | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Human writers only — never AI-generated scripts | Every audio description script at Gotham Lab is written by a human specialist with entertainment industry training and accessibility compliance expertise. AI-generated AD scripts frequently fail timing calibration, misidentify visual priorities, and violate ACB and DCMP style guidelines — creating compliance risk and a poor experience for blind and visually impaired viewers. Gotham Lab does not use AI to generate AD scripts under any circumstances. Contact us to discuss your project. |
| FCC, CVAA, ACB, DCMP & Netflix compliant | Gotham Lab’s AD scripts comply with all current regulatory and platform standards — FCC broadcast requirements, CVAA IP delivery standards, ACB style guidelines, DCMP formatting standards, and Netflix’s timed text style guide for audio description. Every script is delivered with a compliance checklist confirming adherence to all applicable standards before delivery. Learn more about our audio description services. |
| Script writing + narration recording under one roof | Gotham Lab is the only New York City accessibility company combining in-house AD script writing with in-house narration recording — eliminating the coordination delays and quality inconsistencies that occur when scripting and recording are handled by separate vendors. One project manager, one quality standard, one delivery package from script through broadcast-ready audio file. Contact us to get started. |
| Multilingual AD — 50+ languages | Gotham Lab provides audio description script translation and multilingual narration recording in 50+ languages — extending visual accessibility to international audiences. Our in-house translation team works directly with our recording studio on multilingual AD projects, ensuring consistent quality, terminology, and timing standards across every language version. Contact us for a multilingual AD quote. |
| Complete accessibility package — AD + captions + subtitles + localization | Gotham Lab is the only NYC company offering in-house audio description scripts, AD narration recording, closed captioning, SDH subtitles, and multilingual localization — giving content producers a single accessibility partner for every compliance requirement. One NDA, one project manager, one delivery package covering every accessibility and language need your content has. |
f.a.q.
Frequently Asked Questions — Audio Description Scripts
Audio description script questions answered by Gotham Lab’s in-house NYC team.
Get a Free Audio Description Script Quote
Gotham Lab’s New York City audio description team is ready to discuss your project. Whether you need a single AD script for a short film festival submission, a complete AD package for a streaming platform delivery, multilingual AD narration for an international museum exhibition, or a compliance review of an existing script — our in-house NYC team handles every component of AD production from script through final audio delivery.
Contact Gotham Lab: info@gothamlab.com | +1 347-587-8110 | 340 W 42nd St #2424, New York, NY 10108