[blindkid] Described Videos

[Brandy W]

While much of this is awesome it isn't helpful at all if we can't get
through the menus to turn all of this off and on. The resource I used to buy
DVS movies on is no longer in business, and since TV is such a little part
of our life I've given up. I'd be interested if it became easier to access.

Bran




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-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Richard Holloway
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 8:36 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Described Videos

I have found this all very useful as well. I am wondering if we aren't all a
good deal closer to more DVS than we may realize. First of all, it looks
like quite a few current titles are coming out with DVS, so if you're buying
current DVD's, check for the Description feature.

The other thing is that there are DVS simulcasts over the air and on cable
fairly often, both for kids and adults. Seems like, they are pretty much
undocumented (at least so far as I can tell). From what I read, I think
current Sesame Street broadcasts over at least some PBS stations may be
described now. Atlanta's PBS seems not to send out an alternative audio
program, though the main Georgia station which covers the entire northern
part of the state (Atlanta included) supposedly does. 

>From what I can gather, they aren't really sending things out properly and
they didn't know it until now. I have been told an engineer is looking into
the problem and they have asked for my contact info to give to the engineer.
I suspect many areas actually do have PBS shows working with DVS. It may be
must like what Crystal found with her Toy Story DVD; the audio is right
there and just a menu selection away...

A day or two ago, I found that TBS was sending DVS over the alternative
audio feed when I checked on a lark. They were running Blue Streak (Martin
Lawrence)-- a bit of a mature theme for Kendra, but interesting to run
across. with audio description... This morning on Nick, I happened across
"Dora the Explorer" and checked. Sure enough, DVS was there too. Strangely,
according to the TiVo and Comcast schedules, it wasn't supposed to be on at
the time. While the show on TBS behaved normally, I was surprised to
discover that nearly all the commercials on the Nick program were running
with no audio (only when DVS was selected). No great loss for us though-- (I
don't care for commercials much).

Later, also on Nick and with the alternate audio still selected, the kids
asked where all the words went. I stopped and listened. Sure enough, no
words, just music. No words in the opening theme and not in the program
itself either-- only music and sound effects. We switched back to the main
audio feed and all was normal.

What it comes down to is that what they used to call Separate Audio Program,
or  "SAP" (and I tend to call it that still in case I use that by mistake in
a post) which is now generally an alternative language selection with
digital programming, can contain anything that the broadcaster wants to
send. Sometimes it really is an alternative language, generally Spanish.
Sometimes it is DVS, Sometimes the audio channel is not present, or it can
be present but blank (silent). C-Span (in Atlanta at least) runs an
unrelated audio program (maybe a radio rebroadcast?). One local station here
used to rebroadcast "Weather Radio" on the SAP 24/7. If you're curious, look
around under your audio menu on your TV or in other places like that (I get
to mine best through a TiVo system).

One important note if you're using a DVR like TiVo. I suspect in all cases,
but certainly with TiVo, if you record, you only get one audio selection--
whatever is chosen as the show records. If you record with DVS, that is what
you have after you're done. If there is unselected DVS options when you
record, it is gone. If you record with Spanish running, you get Spanish...
This apparently is to keep recordings as small as possible.

It is all a little complex, but I'm inspired and going to keep watching
until I find a pattern and learn what shows are available on TV around here.
Maybe I'll also figure out a list that's available somewhere of shows
running with DVS and make this simpler.

I'd still love to hear what others are finding in their local cable and
broadcast areas as fas as DVS either on or off list!

For now, I'll turn my attention back to the TV show running here. though It
is family movie night again and we're watching Toy Story 2, with-- you
guessed it, DVS.



> This has been a great conversation! I got my Toy Story DVD's out and found
the "audio feature" which made them descriptive. Ben has watched these
videos many times, but never with the audio description. He is absolutely
thrilled!
> 
> Thanks,
> Crystal
> 
>> From: rholloway at gopbc.org
>> Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 13:37:22 -0400
>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Described Videos
>> 
>> I found a few DVD's with DVS (Described Audio) at Target this weekend and
am working my way through a lot of the info I came up with through this list
and elsewhere. In our new effort for family movie fun, we started off with
the three "Described" Toy Story movies as well as Disney's Princess and the
Frog. I want to share with others on the list who may not have tried to deal
with all of this audio described programming how much our blind daughter
(age 8) seems to appreciate being able to participate in things like "family
movie night" more fully now. She loves hearing what is going on without
asking "what's happening???" every few moments. So, thanks to all for your
help; we're making progress now!
>> 
>> A bit more info, if I may--First, the titles seem few and far between in
stores. They are poorly and inconsistently labeled as well. Shows I fond
with logos (not all even have a logo) now show a "D))))" on top of a little
black square; presumably a frame of film? (It has little "sprocket holes" on
both sides.) The logo is tiny! Some simply list "English DVS" (or similar)
as a language option in small print on the back (no logo at all).
>> 
>> I finally heard back from Georgia's main PBS affiliate (WGTV) and have
been advised that their Chief Engineer will be in contact to try and help
resolve the technical issues I'm having. I'm pretty certain this is on their
end since it is both through Comcast, AND over the air, especially since I
can get an alternative audio feed from C-Span (unrelated SAP info they tend
to send) plus, I found a DVS movie running today over TBS (Comcast 39 in
Atlanta) that was working just fine. This makes me wonder how long this has
been a problem, and why (apparently) nobody has complained enough to bring
the problem to the right person's attention. Still, no matter where the
problem lies, it is nice that they are trying to help...
>> 
>> I am wondering what others are able to get over the air (cable,
satellite, etc.) with DVS around the country. Are others getting DVS over
PBS with things like Sesame Street? How about Nick cartoons like Dora and
Diego? I read these are available, but so far, no luck. "Grown up" shows
like NCIS on CBS are also apparently sent with DVS, but right now all of the
NCIS shows I find are on USA, which apparently does NOT send out any SAP
feeds of DVS-- at least not of NCIS. I assume only newer NCIS shows have the
descriptions. I wish I had thought to check before summer hiatus for NCIS.
>> 
>> Terribly sorry for all of the acronyms, I'd just love to get together
some idea of what is actually going on with DVS for our kids and really
anyone who can make use of the service through both packaged media like
DVD's and broadcast services such as PBS, CBS, TBS, TNT (all of these are
supposed to be offering some programming with DVS) as it seems to vary based
on location.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Richard
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