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Audio Description and Digital television switchover for blind and partially sighted people
Anna Jones, Media and Culture Officer, RNIB, came to talk to a very successful meeting of SVI members on the 5th September. Anna has now sent us these notes;
"The whole of the UK is switching to digital TV over the coming years and the Central TV region is switching in 2011. You will need to do something about switching between now and 2011.
It will give you better sound and picture quality and more radio and TV channels to choose from. The main benefit for those with a visual impairment is it can give audio description. This is a narrative that’s inserted between programme dialogue that describes what’s happening on screen including action sequences, facial expressions or body language.
Audio description is available on the following digital TV services: digital satellite (Sky), digital terrestrial (Freeview) and digital cable (Virgin).
Sky
Sky gives you digital TV via a satellite dish. You can subscribe to a TV packages or you can use Sky’s Freesat service. This means you’ll not have to pay every month, just a one-off cost. Contact the Sky Accessibility Helpline on 08705 66 33 33 for more details.
Freeview
This is digital TV through your TV aerial. To convert your existing TV to digital via Freeview, all you need to do is buy a set-top box and connect it to your TV and aerial. However there are currently no set-top boxes on the market that can deliver audio description for Freeview but there are integrated televisions, a specific media centre or a PC card. Contact RNIB on 020 7391 2398 for up to date information on model numbers.
Cable
Cable gives you digital TV via a cable into your property usually provided by Virgin Media. Virgin Media customers can now get audio description around the country. For instructions on how to set this up, call Virgin Media on 0845 454 1111.
Help Scheme
This scheme provides help switching for certain vulnerable groups of people, including anyone over 75 or anyone registered blind or partially sighted. It will provide equipment to enable you to switch your main TV to digital. Anyone fulfilling the criteria for the scheme will be contacted to ask if help is required. For more information call Digital UK on 0800 519 2021.
Further information
If you require any further information about anything in this article, please contact RNIB on 0207 391 2398 or send an email to audiodescription@rnib.org.uk."
Thanks Anna