Campaigns

Get the Picture campaign - update

Summary: Update from our campaign to make television accessible for people with sight problems.

• Campaign success
• Carry on campaigning
• Further information

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Digital TV and radio brings many opportunities with more channels, better quality sound and picture, the ability to deliver audio description and interactive services. But it also brings many challenges for people with sight problems and other disabilities.

Get the Picture report (please note that this report was written before the Communications Act 2003 was passed and before the Netgem set top box became available):

• Get the Picture report (Word)
• Executive summary (Word)
• RNIB response to Ofcom Consultations.

Campaign success

How we found 'Lost'

In response to your campaigning, Channel 4 have agreed to audio describe the second series of Lost. Read about our Lost - audio description campaign success!

Audio description now available to digital satellite customers

After years of campaigning, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have agreed to broadcast their audio description on Sky (digital satellite TV). It means people with sight problems in over seven million homes with Sky will be able to get audio description.

Carry on campaigning

The issues around Digital TV switchover are receiving lots of attention at the moment. We need your support to make sure that digital TV is accessible and to get more programmes audio described. Now is great time to push for more audio description. You can use our draft letter (Word) to tell your MP how valuable audio description is and ask that TV equipment is accessible. Tell us what you think about digital TV and audio description by emailing campaign at rnib.org.uk

Report of the Bolton Digital Television Trial

The aim of the trial was to find out what support people would need at digital TV switchover. One of the key lessons from the report was that disabled people require digital TV equipment that meets their specific needs including clear graphics and a legible Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), and a well-designed remote control with large, clearly marked buttons. It also stated that audio description is a key benefit for people who are vision-impaired, but the facility is not currently available on most Freeview receivers.

We definitely welcome the findings of the report and make the following points in response:

• As audio description is seen as a key benefit targets should be increased to 20 per cent.
• All Freeview set top boxes should be able to receive audio description
• All EPGs and remote controls should be clearly legible and should also have speech outfit
• That assistance should be available to both registered blind and partially sighted people.

Ofcom review

Ofcom have recently carried out a Television access services review. However it ignored the issue that really matters to blind and partially sighted people - increasing audio description targets.

Ofcom research into audio description found:

“... a majority [of visually impaired people] feel it helps them to improve their understanding of programmes.” and “63 per cent of those not previously aware of the service claim they would be interested in using it.”

and

“Audio description currently has a low penetration… however the level of interest expressed in it suggests that it holds much future potential.”

RNIB disagrees with the Ofcom proposal not to review the statutory target for audio description until the scale of take-up is clearer.

RNIB's full response to the Ofcom Consultation (Word)

Further information

We will be providing more information on our campaign soon. Please email us at campaign@rnib.org.uk if you would like us to email you when the audio description is available or with campaign materials to increase the targets.

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/10/2008 16:12