[blindkid] DVS list?

Sun Dec 9 20:26:09 UTC 2012

Unfortunately, just because a movie or TV show has been described (and therefore has shown up on one of the lists of DVS shows) does not mean it will always be broadcast with the description available, or that the DVD / BluRay will have the feature available. (I wish it were that simple.)

The point I was trying to make about shows on Nickelodeon before is even on that one network, they have a few stations (Nickelodeon, Nick 2, TeenNick, NickToons, etc.) and sometimes the exact same shows run on more than one station. A show that runs on Nickelodeon with DVS available may run on Nick 2 without it. You have to check each time. So far-- just like Steve suggests, there are limited networks running DVS at all, but numbers are growing, and some is better than none, right?

Same thing for a movie in the theater. Nearly all are released with DVS available. Most theaters don't support offering them yet. If you're lucky enough to be near a Regal Theater, you have a better chance than with many others, since a number of their theaters now run virtually every show the screen with available DVS.

For a TV show, just as Steve suggests, check and see if DVS is present. What I constantly find is WHEN DVS is present, it shows up under the Spanish option on my TiVo, which has a long list of potential languages. I never actually find French, German, etc., available, but they are in the menu list and can be selected. Just like with DVD's, more than one alternate can apparently be supplied (though I have not yet found more than one actually running).

Once you find DVS, if you don't turn off the alternate language setting, which shows up different ways on different sets and DVR's you may end up with Spanish running on a later show by surprise. This happened to me this morning, when my 6-year-old found and began watching a Smurf movie in Spanish. If that happens, turn off SAP (Separate Audio Program) or turn off "Alternate Audio", etc. The exact settings vary between sets, DVR's and cable boxes.

I'm glad to hear about NBC, I haven't found that before. I am aware of select shows on CBS, Fox. Nickelodeon, and TCM (Turner Classic Movies), as well as PBS, though the last I checked, PBS in Atlanta
still proudly stood behind their decision to STOP carrying DVS as it would confuse typically sighted viewers who found that option by accident. They said it was taking too much of their engineers' time.

Also, TBS has run a few shows with DVS even though I found on their web site that the "do not offer" such programming. The last thing I ran across on TBS was "A Christmas Story" last Christmas on the 24 hour marathon.

On Dec 9, 2012, at 1:25 PM, Steve Craig wrote:

> It most likely is not DVS on HBO. There are some channels that offer DVS for particular programs. Turn on the SAP feature on your television set. Should be easy to find in your options menu. For my particular television which is a Vizio, I just push the down arrow on the remote and it turns to SAP. I do know that there are programs on NBC and CBS also PBS where it is offered. And there should be more to come in the near future.
> 
> Steven L. Craig
> 
> 
> --- On Sun, 12/9/12, lindashalm at aol.com <lindashalm at aol.com> wrote:
> 
> From: lindashalm at aol.com <lindashalm at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] DVS list?
> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
> Date: Sunday, December 9, 2012, 11:51 AM
> 
> 
> I have a question on DVS if no one minds....For example, Warhorse is on the list.  Would that mean that if it's on HBO or something, we should be able to get it to describe.  If so, how would that be done?
> 
> Thanks,
> Linda, NJ
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org>
> To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children) <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Fri, Dec 7, 2012 12:41 pm
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] DVS list?
> 
> 
> That's nice to hear, thanks. So glad that you had some success!
> 
> Our local library had a number of described films listed on-line, but most came 
> in without DVS on them. Rather strange. A few other titles on the shelf do have 
> DVS but are not shown to have this feature on the list. I made them aware of the 
> issue. I have seen no changes in the catalog however and that was quite a while 
> ago.
> 
> I have found that some Redbox (rental) titles have Audio Description ("How to 
> Train Your Dragon" comes to mind), but as I mentioned before, at least one major 
> distributor was intentionally deleting the DVS from the rental releases of the 
> same films SOLD with DVS and there is no indication on the Kiosk before you 
> rent. I do understand the one distributor (I think it was Sony-- can't recall 
> for certain) stated they would stop removing the DVS from those titles. Still, 
> when you rent, you never know for certain what you'll get.
> 
> That was part of the concern that I didn't think to mention to Dawn in my reply 
> to her-- the titles listed on the sites don't always have the DVD on the 
> particular disc you buy, so I always want to have my hands on the disc before I 
> buy it to see the back of the package...
> 
> One of the things I'd like to on some list. Hear that people actually rented 
> "Title X" from redbox and fount it had DVS, or that it was missing.
> 
> Our main library downtown (Atlanta) does have a number of described VHS titles 
> for loan. This is the library that manages most braille titles and audio tapes 
> of recordings for the blind and dyslexic for metro Atlanta as well. Some video 
> tapes are in great condition. Some are virtually unwatchable (from excessive 
> wear or damage).
> 
> 
> Richard Holloway, Vice President
> Georgia Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> www.gopbc.org
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Dec 7, 2012, at 11:00 AM, SCDUFFLEY at aol.com wrote:
> 
>> This discussion has been helpful to me.  I actually checked my local  
>> library and had a very good conversation with the person who purchases and 
> logs  
>> in new materials.  Since our state library (for the blind)no longer  
>> purchases  material for DVS, (we currently have a couple of hundred titles  on 
> VHS 
>> on general loan from our state talking book library), I asked my  local 
>> library  to please set up a link for those materials that have  the DVS.  To 
> his 
>> astonishment, only one title in all the NH database in our  area came up 
>> with a DVS.  
>> 
>> He had never heard of DVS, so we talked over 30 minutes on  why and  how 
>> this could happen.  They do have a search for the hearing impaired, so  why 
>> not the blind?  He is excited to bring this up at his next meeting with  those 
> 
>> involved and he said he would also check his media supplier about future  
>> purchase of DVS titles.  
>> 
>> If anyone else has any library experience with this, I 'd be glad to know  
>> about it.
>> 
>> Good day everyone!
>> 
>> Christine  
>> 
>> 
>> In a message dated 12/7/2012 10:43:56 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
>> rholloway at gopbc.org writes:
>> 
>> Sorry to  post so much here on DVS lately-- probably overwhelming to some 
>> less  interested in the topic. My hope is others who would like to share 
>> described  films with family will explore and enjoy this option. While 
> confusing 
>> at  first, if you work through the nonsense it gets easier-- I think it is 
>> worth  the hassle.
>> 
>> I keep looking for a list or similar place with more  ongoing info on this 
>> topic. I spend lots of time searching in person, one DVD  case at a time, on 
>> back, reading small print to track down some of the more  obscure DVD's 
>> with Audio Description.
>> 
>> Seems like there must be (or at  least there needs to be) a forum to help 
>> people learn what DVD's are out, what  TV shows are being broadcast with DVS 
>> and what films and theaters are  supporting the service as well.
>> 
>> If anyone knows of, or runs across such  a place, please let me know (on 
>> list or off).
>> 
>> I'm also happy to help  anyone figure out how to access as much as I'm 
>> able, and off-list contact is  fine for that as well. Just trying to help and 
>> share.
>> 
>> Regards to  all,
>> 
>> Richard
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