Senator Conroy made the announcement during a radio interview with Robyn Gaile, Executive Officer of Blind Citizens Australia, on the New Horizons program, which is broadcast on Radio for the Print Handicapped and community radio stations across Australia.
The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 reinstated audio description quotas for television. The main television services will have to comply with this by 1 July 2012, delivering the service on a second audio channel on set-top boxes. The NAB argued that introducing audio description for mobile TV will be more difficult, as mobile receivers will need to be modified to receive the service.
The TVTechnology website includes commentary on the issue.
The videos, released as part of Hearing Awareness Week, give practical information about subjects such as connecting set-top boxes and recording digital television, as well as support services such as the Household Assistance Scheme.
“The Gillard Government wants to ensure all members of the community receive the information they need about the switch to digital TV which is happening progressively across Australia between 2010 and 2013,” said Senator Conroy.
"This is great news for blind and partially sighted people, as AD was always an optional feature available on some digital TVs and set top boxes,” said Raheel Malick, Development Officer (Digital Media) at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
