Get Descriptive Video Service info

If you have a visual impairment, you can turn on Descriptive Video Service to get a narration of on-screen action for your favorite shows. Find out how.

INSTRUCTIONS & INFO

Learn more about Descriptive Video Service (DVS)

What is DVS?
Descriptive Video Service (DVS) tells you what’s happening on your TV screen during the silent parts of certain live shows. With DVS, also known as Audio Description (AD), you have an alternate audio setting. It may include Spanish, DVS English, or another language.

DVS is currently available for some programs shown on DIRECTV STREAM.

Check out these third-party resources. Keep in mind that some programs listed as having DVS may not be available on DIRECTV STREAM.

Have questions about alternate audio settings?
English is usually the default audio setting. However, Spanish is the default setting for some Spanish channels.

The alternate audio setting is only in effect while you’re listening to a program. You’ll have to reset it again if you do any of the following:

Change the channel
Close the player
Turn off the device

Want to see if another channel has an alternate audio setting? You’ll have to change the channel and repeat the steps to enable alternate audio.

From DIRECTV STREAM device
While viewing a live program:

Press OK on the DIRECTV STREAM device remote.
Press the down arrow to see the DIRECTV app video player.
Find the audio speech bubble and CC options, then press OK. (Heads up: You may have to press the right arrow first.)
Select Alternate if available.
Go back to viewing the program and listen to determine if the alternate audio includes DVS.

From a mobile device or web browser
While viewing a live program:

Press the speech bubble to show the audio and closed captioning menu.
Look under Audio and select Alternate, if available.
Go back to viewing the program and listen to determine if the alternate audio includes DVS.

From other devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku
While viewing a live program:

Go to the Options menu and choose CC/Audio.
Select Alternate (if you’re on Roku, select Spanish).
Go back to viewing the program and listen to determine if the alternate or Spanish audio includes DVS.

Troubleshoot DVS

Apple devices
If you change the audio language option 2 or more times during a live playback session, your stream may freeze, go silent (no audio), or both for about 30 seconds. To fix, change the channel.

Roku devices
You’ll always see English listed as the main audio language option and Spanish as the alternate. This happens regardless of your actual languages. It’s a device-related issue so there’s no way to fix it.

Chromecast

If you cast Chromecast while the DIRECTV STREAM app is tuned to a channel that supports a secondary audio track, the alternate audio language option will be preselected. This is a device-related issue so there’s no way to fix it.
If you cast Chromecast while the DIRECTV STREAM app is tuned to a channel that doesn’t support a secondary audio track, the alternate audio language option won’t appear when you switch to a channel that supports a secondary audio track. This is a device-related issue so there’s no way to fix it.
Once you select a channel that supports a secondary audio track with closed captioning enabled and you switch to another channel, closed captioning may not work. To get closed captioning back, stop and restart casting to a channel that doesn’t support a secondary audio track.
Closed captioning may not be available on programs that support a secondary audio track. This is a device-related issue so there’s no way to fix it.

Safari browser
Selecting Alternate to access DVS Audio automatically turns on closed captioning. This happens even when closed captioning is checked off. This is a device-related issue so there’s no way to fix it.

Last updated: December 7, 2022