The key findings are:
1. An audio description trial is proposed for the ABC during the second half of 2011 (subject to funding) and will be a closed trial with receiver mix
2. Captioning quotas will be brought solely under the Broadcasting Services Act, including those for subscription television
3. Free-to-air television will have 100% captioning between 6am and midnight by analog switch-off
4. Caption quality standards will finally be formally addressed
5. Equipment issues making set-top boxes accessible
6. Cinema accessibility in the major cinemas is already covered by the initiative announced by Minister Conroy and Parliamentary Secretary Shorten earlier this year and the Government will work with the independents to develop accessibility
7. Screen Australia is being encouraged to include audio description as well as captioning on Australian films and DVD releases
Media Access Australia CEO, Alex Varley, said, “Overall this a good step forward for media access in Australia and a welcome Christmas message from Senator Conroy for deaf and blind people. There are no major surprises in the recommendations and some of the detail will be worked out over the coming months. For me the biggest change is the audio description trial on ABC TV next year. This is a game-changer and should lead to a proper AD service on Australian television.”
A copy of the report can be found on the Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy website.
MAA will provide more detailed commentary over the next few days on specific issues raised in the report.
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