[Blindtlk] Audio Description

Fri Jun 15 19:21:21 UTC 2012

Dear Michelle, I cannot do that either. And that is for two reasons. Reason 1: cable boxes are inaccessible for the blind, and reason 2: my parents can't understand things either due to recent migration to the United States and they don't know English that well.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michelle Medina
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2012 9:34 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Audio Description

I don't know what to look for, which means I can't tell my parents
what to look for. That's why I wrote in in the first place. I have no
understanding of this at all.
I mean I download DVS movies to my computer but that's it. I've never
had/used audio description in relation to my TV.

On 6/15/12, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
> Before you do that, go through the menu on your television and cable. It may
> be there.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Michelle Medina
> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2012 11:25 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Audio Description
>
> O geeze. . . so I'll have to call out Charter cable company then because my
> parents have no idea how to figure that junk out and neither do I. Lol.
>
> On 6/15/12, Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net> wrote:
>> the trick is to find where your audio setup menu is on your cable box.
>> That's how you access it; if it's even there.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>> Skype name:
>> barefootedray
>>
>> On Jun 15, 2012, at 10:05 AM, Michelle Medina wrote:
>>
>>> So my question is HOW do I access this?
>>> I'll phone into Newsline and it'll tell me that something is audio
>>> described, but according to my family I don't have the button
>>> required on my TV, or cable box to gain access. So do I need to buy
>>> some special TV and if so where would I obtain it?
>>>
>>> On 6/15/12, David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Beginning July 1, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, plus the top five cable
>>>> networks will begin providing audio descriptions of some of their
>>>> programming for blind or sight-impaired viewers. The shows to be
>>>> described range from ABC's Modern Family to CBS's NCIS to
>>>> Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer to USA's Royal Pains.
>>>>
>>>> For now, stations in the top 25 markets and cable systems with
>>>> 50,000 or more subs will be required to offer about four hours a
>>>> week of the new service. The number of stations and hours will
>>>> gradually increase.
>>>>
>>>> Starting July 1, the country’s 21.5 million visually impaired people
>>>> will be able to enjoy TV more than ever before.
>>>>
>>>> On that day, the Big Four broadcast networks and the top five-rated
>>>> cable networks will begin offering four hours a week of so-called
>>>> video descriptions that clue in blind and partially sighted viewers
>>>> on what's going on when the characters aren't talking. The
>>>> descriptions, audible only to viewers who want them to be audible,
>>>> are squeezed in between the dialog.
>>>>
>>>> Video descriptions have been part of broadcasting, cable, home
>>>> video, but never to the extent on TV as they will be beginning next
>>>> month.
>>>>
>>>> It's not altruism driving the surge in descriptions. They were
>>>> mandated by Congress in the 21st Century Communications and Video
>>>> Accessibility Act of 2010.
>>>>
>>>> According to the FCC's implementing rules, the Big Four O&Os and
>>>> affiliates in the top 25 markets will have to air 50 hours each
>>>> quarter  or roughly four hours a week  of described programming.
>>>>
>>>> Cable and satellite systems with at least 50,000 subscribers have to
>>>> offer the same amount of described programming for the top
>>>> five-rated cable networks  currently Disney, Nickelodeon, TBS, TNT
>>>> and USA.
>>>>
>>>> And with just weeks to go before the deadline, the described
>>>> programming plans of nine affected networks are shaping up.
>>>>
>>>> ABC’s plan is to provide descriptions on some of its Tuesday and
>>>> Wednesday shows. This summer, those shows include sitcoms Last Man
>>>> Standing, The Middle, Suburgatory, Modern Family, Happy Endings and
>>>> Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23.
>>>>
>>>> In the fall, ABC will likely include most of those shows and new
>>>> sitcom The Neighbors and new drama Nashville.
>>>>
>>>> CBS has been providing audio descriptions for several programs since
>>>> 2002. The lineup is CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles,
>>>> plus movies and miniseries.
>>>>
>>>> NBC has broadcast a slew of shows with descriptions, including the
>>>> Betty White reality show Off Their Rockers, drama Grimm and the
>>>> summer series Saving Hope. Described sitcoms include The Office, Up
>>>> All Night and Parks and Recreation.
>>>>
>>>> At Fox, The Simpsons has been audio described for several years.
>>>> Beyond the animated sitcom, Fox isn't prepared to say what it would
>>>> be offering.
>>>>
>>>> Disney Channel's described shows will include hit sitcoms Jessie,
>>>> A.N.T. Farm and the animated Phineas and Ferb.
>>>>
>>>> Nickelodeon will offer descriptions for some of its biggest hits,
>>>> like the long-running animated Dora the Explorer and preschool
>>>> educational show Team Umizoomi.
>>>>
>>>> Turner Broadcasting will have described movies as well as TV series.
>>>> Among the series: TNT’s The Closer and TBS’s Tyler Perry comedies
>>>> House of Payne and For Better or Worse.
>>>>
>>>> USA’s described programs will include off-network shows NCIS and Law
>>>> & Order: SVU, plus originals like Royal Pains and Suits.
>>>>
>>>> “My hope is that more and more networks will embrace these
>>>> accessibility initiatives,” says Joel Snyder, president of Audio
>>>> Description Associates. He serves as director of the American
>>>> Council of the Blind’s audio description project and is an adviser
>>>> to the FCC.
>>>>
>>>> “If they do it right, they'll find ways to make money from it. If
>>>> they make their shows accessible to these folks, there is a bigger
>>>> market for advertisers to sell their products.”
>>>>
>>>> For the most part, video-described programs won't include live shows
>>>> or news. The networks, which are providing most of this content to
>>>> their affiliates, need time to write description scripts for voice
>>>> artists to record.
>>>>
>>>> “It takes longer to get that done than closed captioning,” says one
>>>> network executive. “It also requires us to look at how our
>>>> post-production schedules are set up. We have to work very closely
>>>> with the folks at the post-production houses to make sure we get the
>>>> programming to our vendors with sufficient time to get the video
>>>> description correct.”
>>>>
>>>> Producing the descriptions costs between $2,000 to $4,000 per hour.
>>>>
>>>> The networks and some associations for the blind are helping to
>>>> ensure that people with vision problems know that descriptions are
>>>> coming.
>>>>
>>>> “It’s great for the networks to comply, but what’s more important is
>>>> getting the information out to folks,” says Helena Berger, EVP-COO
>>>> of the American Association of People with Disabilities.
>>>> She is also a member of Comcast-NBCUniversal’s joint diversity council.
>>>>
>>>> “What we can do on our end at AAPD is to use our communication
>>>> channels, like our newsletter, our website and social media to get
>>>> the word out to the community.”
>>>>
>>>> Some of the networks are creating logos and audio tones so that
>>>> people with vision problems know when a program has audio
>>>> descriptions. So far, there isn't an industry standard.
>>>>
>>>> And TV listing providers like Tribune Media Services will provide
>>>> data to programming services to let them know if a program is
>>>> audio-described. Then, it’s up to individual cable systems to add
>>>> symbols or sounds to their on-screen listings.
>>>>
>>>> These described programs are the culmination of a 12-year battle by
>>>> the FCC and groups such as the Audio Description Institute. They
>>>> thought they had won the battle in 2000 when the FCC adopted rules
>>>> similar to the 2010 act, but a court agreed with broadcasters that
>>>> the agency had overstepped its authority.
>>>>
>>>> Now backed by law, the new FCC rules gradually expand the
>>>> description obligations to other TV stations. By July 1, 2015, major
>>>> network affiliates in the top 60 markets will have to broadcast the
>>>> descriptions. The FCC may require additional stations to air
>>>> descriptions at a rate of 10 markets a year if it deems the cost is
>>>> reasonable.
>>>>
>>>> According to broadcasters, it costs stations anywhere from $10,000
>>>> and $25,000 to install the gear necessary to handle the extra audio
>>>> channel.
>>>>
>>>> Just because someone has a disability doesn't mean they don't want
>>>> to be included in life,”
>>>> says Debra Ruh, chief marketing officer at SSB Bart Group, a firm
>>>> that helps companies make their computer services and websites fully
>>>> compliant and accessible to people with disabilities. “Part of
>>>> participating in life is being able to experience television. TV is
>>>> a very important part of our culture.”
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> "Like the sun we will live to rise,
>>> Like the sun we will live and die!
>>> And then. . . ignite again!"
>>> "Live to Rise"--Christopher Cornell/Soundgarden, from The Avengers
>>> Soundtrack
>>>
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>>
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>
>
> --
> "Like the sun we will live to rise,
> Like the sun we will live and die!
> And then. . . ignite again!"
> "Live to Rise"--Christopher Cornell/Soundgarden, from The Avengers
> Soundtrack
>
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-- 
"Like the sun we will live to rise,
Like the sun we will live and die!
And then. . . ignite again!"
"Live to Rise"--Christopher Cornell/Soundgarden, from The Avengers Soundtrack

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