DVD terms
Buying DVDs overseas and how access features may be affected
Although it is possible to buy DVDs overseas and watch them on DVD players in Australia, you should be aware that the region coding system for DVDs may affect the playback of captions on DVD players locally. Audio description should not be affected.
Taxonomy:
Top of page
Five highlights of Language and the Media
Californian DVD kiosks to be accessible after court settlement
no
Show on home page
In settling the class action, Redbox has agreed to incorporate audio guidance, tactile keyboards and other accessibility features into its kiosks. One kiosk at each location will have the features within 18 months, and they will be extended to all of its kiosks within 30 months. There will also be 24-hour phone assistance available at each kiosk.
In addition to this, Redbox will pay US$1.2 million to the class of aggrieved persons in California, and US$10,000 to each of the individuals who made the complaint. It will also pay court costs.
Top of page
Database of audio described DVDs
Media Access Australia maintains a database of audio described DVDs. The DVDs listed on the database are entertainment DVDs, but some may have relevance to the classroom.
Top of page
Is Blu-ray as accessible as DVD?
no
Show on home page
Blu-ray has been an alternative home entertainment video format since 2006 and sold itself on offerings of greater picture quality as well as increased disc space which would allow for more features. This space was promoted by some home entertainment industry representatives as the ‘sure thing’ that would lead to increased levels of closed captioning and audio description.
Taxonomy:
News alert taxonomy:
Top of page
DVD distributors accessibility framework
The Australian Home Entertainment Distributors Association (AHEDA) has a DVD accessibility framework document, affirming its commitment to making available access features such as captioning and audio description.
AHEDA will also respond on behalf of members to complain about accessibility of specific DVD titles where access features were available overseas and not in Australia.
Objectives of the Accessibility Framework for the Home Entertainment Film Industry
The objectives of this Framework are to:
Taxonomy:
Top of page
Statistics on DVD accessibility in Australia
Background
Since 2006, Media Access Australia (MAA) has been keeping a watch on the access levels of entertainment, rental DVDs in Australia on a bi-monthly basis.
The methods used to provide the information below is simply taken from the DVD covers of rental titles at a local DVD outlet, with support from members of the Australian Home Entertainment Distributors Association (AHEDA).
Within the time that statistics have been kept, over 2,500 titles have been researched. Titles are checked for a number of things:
Taxonomy:
Top of page
Pages
