eSteno targets 200 sign language films in 2026 as accessibility demand grows
As the industry gathers to discuss content trends and distribution strategies for the year ahead, accessibility services have emerged as a critical growth sector. David Israel, VP of Business Development & Operations at eSteno, outlined the company’s aggressive roadmap for 2026, projecting the localization of between 100 and 200 films into various sign languages over the next twelve months.
Speaking during the last edition of MIP Cancun in November, Israel detailed the company’s strategic pivot toward enhancing partnerships with producers and distributors, specifically focusing on localization and accessibility solutions.
A central pillar of eSteno’s growth strategy is the expansion of its sign language services. With teams distributed across the United States and Brazil, the company has developed a specific workflow for the US market that is already yielding volume.
‘In the last year, we did seven films for Warner Bros. and, in the last two months alone, seven films for Amazon together with our partner Deluxe’, stated regarding the company’s recent output.
The executive’s forecast for 2026 aims to scale these operations significantly. The target of 100 to 200 films includes not only American Sign Language (ASL) but also an expansion into Mexican and Brazilian sign languages, as well as services tailored for the Indian market. According to Israel, inclusion has evolved from a corporate value into a clear commercial opportunity: ‘Companies are understanding that there is a very vocal and loyal community toward brands that offer these types of services’.
Regarding the broader market climate, Israel expressed optimism for the current year. ‘The next year looks positive. We are not yet at 100% of what we had three or four years ago, but there is definitely a favorable shift’, he noted.
Among the specific trends driving demand, the executive highlighted the surge in vertical content. He pointed specifically to formats originating from Asia and China, which are experiencing growing demand in Latin America and Brazil, creating new needs for rapid and accurate localization.
eSteno brings over 25 years of experience in closed captioning, subtitling, translation, and audiovisual transcription. Operating 24/7 with a presence in the United States, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, the company’s portfolio includes projects for major global clients such as Netflix, Amazon, Televisa, YouTube, and Discovery, with a specialization in live subtitling and multi-language closed captioning.
