Media Access Reports
Media Access Reports are released quarterly. To have a printed or digital copy sent to you, please contact us via email providing your name and contact details.
We now produce in-depth white papers on key areas of media access instead of these quarterly Media Access Reports. You can find them in our white papers section or if you would like copies sent to you, subscribe to our mailing list.
28, Spring 2013
This issue has a round-up of the M-Enabling Australasia 2013 conference, an interview with leading American access advocate and regulator Karen Peltz-Strauss, a report from this year's CineEurope conference and developments in cinema access, and the latest offline media and digital technology news.
27, Winter 2013
Issue 27 of the Media Access Report looks at audio description regulation around the world and the need for it in Australia, the ACMA's new caption quality guidelines for Australian TV, and the UK regulator Ofcom's attempts to improve live captioning. There's also a report on the Round Table for Information Access for People with Print Disabilities 2013, and all the latest news on the...
26, Autumn 2013
This issue of the Media Access Report has coverage of the Australian Human Rights Commission's Twenty Years: Twenty Stories - Australia's first fully accessible DVD; the CSI User Experience Conference in London and the latest developments in online accessibility; and looks at some of the reasons why all DVDs in Australia are not captioned.
25, Summer 2013
The first Media Access Report includes coverage of the Deafness Forum Captioning Awards and the Languages and Media Conference held in Berlin in November 2012, a report on the recent trial of audio description on the ABC, an interview with a live sport captioner, and a review of the accessibility features of Windows 8.
24, Spring 2012
Issue 24 of the Media Access Report looks at the audio description trial on ABC television and other developments in audio description around the world, and the launch of Media Access Australia’s education initiative CAP THAT! for 2012. There is also an interview with a captioner about the challenges of captioning live sporting events, an update on the Cinema Access Implementation Plan which is...
Media Access Report 23, Winter 2012
CONTENTS
TELEVISION
TV captioning bill introduced to Parliament
Government to provide talking set-top boxes for the blind
TVs that talk – a first for the blind and vision impaired
Audio description trial receives budget funding
UK broadcasters continue to exceed access quotas
Irish access group slams reduction in TV captioning
More captioning on subscription TV
Access rules for UK broadcasters...
Media Access Report 22
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
Canadian access company rebrands its services as AMI
New Zealanders demand closed captioning for Deaf MP
TELEVISION
Audio description trial on the ABC announced
Audio description awareness campaign launched in the UK
Free-to-air TV requests temporary caption exemption
New Zealand working group calls for increased captioning
Canada leads the way in innovative audio...
Media Access Report 21
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
Captions and audio description benefit people on the autism spectrum
New mobile captioning system for visitors to US museums and galleries
The Other Film Festival awarded triennial funding from City of Melbourne
Access to Adelaide library increased for people who are blind and vision impaired
New smart white cane increases independence for blind users
Live TV captioning...
Media Access Report 20
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
Disney offers audio description for outdoor attractions
Victorian Government releases access guidelines for colour blindness
Outrage at decision in JetBlue accessibility case
UK project to help bring music to cochlear implant users
Federal Government announces support for Arts Access Australia
CBM offers Christian audio library for people with a print disability
The...
Media Access Report 18, Autumn 2011
CONTENTS
Media Access News
Canadian access coalition calls for 100% accessibility by 2020
Ofcom publishes Single Equality Scheme Annual Report
US communications regulator proposes new access rules
UK study looks at 3D audio description guidelines
Disney sued over lack of accessibility
Government announces the Terms of Reference for the Convergence Review
Television
A new regime for television...
Media Access Report 17
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
Government releases Media Access Review final report
President Obama signs landmark access bill
Access key topic in Senate Estimates hearings
US communications regulator requests caption feedback
British standards body releases accessibility documentary
Caption levels on US TV commercials surveyed
US project aims to assess quality of live captioning
Media Access Australia CEO...
Media Access Report 16
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
NZ announces TV audio description trial
Accessible radio developments in the US
US Senate passes comprehensive accessibility bill
Channel 4 announces 20% audio description, 100% captioning
UK regulator hedges on AD quota increase
Disney extends its access services in Florida theme parks
US Attorney General announces proposals for improved accessibility regulations
UK...
Media Access Report 15
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
American access organisation conducts caption quality survey
Ai-Media acquires stenocaptioning company
Americans seek accessible flight entertainment
Ofcom reports on accessibility of UK electronic program guides
US bill introduced to update Communications Act accessibility
A new style of audio description under discussion
Australasian firm ensures accessible accounting...
Media Access Report 14
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
DBCDE releases submissions to the Media Access Review Discussion Report
British firm develops the first accessible set-top box
Captioning and audio description at US football stadium
ACCAN appoints new chair and deputy
Hills Industries wins digital assistance contract
Consumer organisation launches major study on broadband access
American flyers call for captioned...
Media Access Report 13
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
Government releases Media Access Report
FCC reminds broadcasters about accessible emergency announcements
Amazon Kindle now shipping to Australia
USdigital mobile TV standard includes access
UKbreaks world record for most people at AD performance
Canadian audio description to expand
UKbreaks world record for most people at AD performance
Accessibility a priority for...
Media Access Report 12
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
European conference focuses on audio description in broadcasting
Ofcom research assists seniors and people with disabilities
Ofcom announces access quotas for 2010
American audio description conference discusses AD standards
Communications peak body opens its doors
Australian Government launches digital blueprint
WIPO supports people with a visual impairment
An amusing...
Media Access Report 10
Media Access News
Minister announces package to ease digital switchover
Digital switchover timetable announced
Consumers confused about television equipment
MAA CEO elected Chair of new consumer body
The Accessible Channel launched in Canada
Ofcom releases its approach to regulation
Mamma Mia they’re going digital
Government initiative on communications access for the disabled
Ofcom releases...
Media Access Report 11
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
Ofcom announces access for disabled consumers as priority
New code of practice for open narrowcast television
Communications consumer organisation appoints first CEO
Audio description debuts in China
US ruling pushes caption obligations
Vision Australia receives $6.6 million grant for DAISY and software upgrades
Yankee Stadium accessible through captions
New FCC working group to...
Media Access Report 9
Media Access News
The Languages and Media Conference 2008
Why is the UK so far ahead of the world in access?
Academics look at practical audio description issues.
Is voice recognition taking over the world?
Audio description in Poland
New Zealand's Review of Digital Broadcasting
Qantas reinforces its commitment to the Deaf and hearing impaired
The US digital switchover and people with...
Media Access Report 8
Media Access News
Closed captions on hand-held devices for airplanes
UK campaign increases awareness of audio description
The Canadian media access inquiry
US Congress passes Higher Education Opportunity Act
MAA CEO joins founding board of ACCAN
AD in the air
Ofcom reports on usability in the communications sector
Ofcom releases second quarter access report for 2008
Network Insight’s...
Media Access Report 7
Contents
Media Access News
Federal government inquiry a boost for access
Television broadcasters
DVD suppliers
Blind and vision impaired consumers and consumer groups
Deaf and hearing impaired consumers and consumer groups
Education
New Media
BBC achieves total captioning
UK TV boss affirms commitment to captioning
What price access?
European Parliament calls for...
Media Access Report 6
Contents
Media Acess News
Digital switchover postponed
ACMA’s review of digital TV codes and standards
Government launches major digital TV strategy
DBCDE calls for broadband submissions
New draft bill could revolutionise access in the US
Ofcom releases fourth quarter access report for 2007
Ofcom’s Audio Description Awareness Campaign in the UK
US consumer research warns of digital transition...
Media Access Report 5
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
Communications Minister appointed DCITA investigation into downloadable media accessibility
WGBH receives grant to explore captioned handheld media
California moves towards mandating website access in Target case
ABC and Vision Australia audio book partnership
The Print Disability Round Table...
Media Access Report 4
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
Democrats Senator calls for new captioning quotas
The Deafness Forum Captioning Awards
Digital UK uses captions to promote digital switchover
Ofcom releases first access report for 2007
ACMA releases digital media report
Ofcom’s research into switchover disadvantaged
RNIB surveys blind...
Media Access Report 3
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
BBC set to launch online captions on iPlayer
Ofcom releases final access report for 2006
Mastering captioning and audio description
Closed captions on Flash videos
New solutions for AD on television unveiled in the UK
Mobile TV delayed
More online captioning innovations
Red Bee Media wins French captioning contract
USA’s Air Carrier Access Act delayed
MAA’s...
Media Access Report 2
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
The Deafness Forum Captioning Awards
Ofcom unveils its Disability Equality Scheme
Scottish Arts Council funds cinema access
Captioning videos on dotSUB
Slow progress on access to movie downloads
WGBH receives access funding
USaction on accessible digital radio
Airport...
Media Access Report 1
CONTENTS
MEDIA ACCESS NEWS
The Deafness Forum Captioning Awards
Ofcom unveils its Disability Equality Scheme
Scottish Arts Council funds cinema access
Captioning videos on dotSUB
Slow progress on access to movie downloads
WGBH receives access funding
US action on accessible digital radio
Airport captioning update
LG produces combined Blu-ray/HD-DVD player
UK...