Zagga TV, which is based in Toronto, was founded by Kevin Shaw, who has been blind since the age of 19. According to its website, it will be offering “a fully accessible video on demand subscription service with first-rate movies and TV shows featuring high-quality described video, uncut and commercial free”.
In April, it launched a crowdfunding campaignon Indiegogo to raise $50,000 which will be used to start building a website. “Financial partners are standing by to fund us the rest of the way,” writes Shaw, “but we need you to let them know you need this service—for yourself, or for someone you care about.”
Levels of audio description on video on demand (VOD) services remain very low around the world, with the BBC still the only broadcaster to regularly provide it on its catch-up service, BBC iPlayer. Netflix, the world’s largest VOD provider, does not include audio description on its online content, and while many of the DVDs if offers do come with audio description, it’s not possible for blind people to locate them as its website is not accessible for screen readers.
In 2013, journalist Robert Kingett and several others launched the Accessible Netflix Project, This has three aims.
- Provide a screen reader friendly experience to all Netflix functions on the PC and mobile devices with all screen readers
- Provide an easily navigable interface for the mobility impaired using adaptive technology
- Provide easy access to audio described content for the blind and the vision impaired on streaming services as well as DVD selection currently and in the future
Kingett is also involved with another new service, TalkingFlix. An initiative of Crossway Media Solutions, it aims to be “the first global audio described entertainment service”, and is due to become operational later in 2014. It will run on a subscription basis, and is inviting people to sign up for a free account now which will make them eligible for special deals and other perks. It is also looking for volunteers to be beta testers for its platform.
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