Television manufacturers need to ensure that their equipment is set-up to deliver AD.
Three television platforms are currently being used in the UK and all of them have the ability to deliver AD:
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Freeview
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BSkyB and Freesat [Satellite TV services]
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Virgin Media [Cable TV service]
1. Freeview
This digital TV platform uses receiver-mix AD. Most of the integrated digital televisions launched in the UK from 2009 onwards have a built in feature that enables them to receive AD. The inclusion of this technology in TV receivers took much longer than RNIB initially estimated and RNIB relentlessly kept on lobbying over the years for its inclusion.
Smart Talk Box
2010 saw the first commercially available Freeview Digital Television Terrestrial set top box with spoken output of menus and EPG information - Smart Talk Set top box.
This set top box featured a fully talking Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), spoken output of all menu settings and one-click access to AD through a dedicated button on the remote control.
Panasonic with Voice Guidance and TVonics PVR with audible menus
Further to this, in 2012, Panasonic launched Voice Guidance on their Viera range. This built-in text to speech engine works by announcing on-screen information and the most important menus. As you become more familiar with your TV you can change the speed of Voice Guidance from beginner to expert if you want fewer instructions. You can also change the speed of the voice and volume that suits you.
Simultaneously , TVonics launched a PVR (personal video recorder) with talking menus.
2. Satellite
For satellite distribution the AD track and programme sound are pre-mixed and then broadcast as an additional high bit rate 'narrative' bit stream. This is called broadcast mix AD and the satellite receiver plays either the audio track with AD or the one without.
BskyB and Freesat
Every BSkyB and every Freesat set-top box receiver in the UK has the ability to receive AD; a few Freesat receivers also have one-click access to AD through a dedicated button on the remote control.
3. Cable
Cable distribution for AD is the same as via Satellite with every Virgin Media set-top box receiver delivering AD as standard.
Information for blind and partially sighted people
See how you can switch on AD on your television