Access Services for the disabled

Access Services for the disabled

Ofcom Document

I sincerely hope that these access services will not be imposed on people watching without disabilities. They must be optional like ceefax/teletext/digital subtitles. I am not against the introduction/extension of these facilities but they should not (as currently done with in vision signing) be forced on the viewer.

There will be bandwidth issues (notably on freeview) but they should be overcome.

Have I gone too far with this argument - what do others think?

The BBC already broadcast audio description on some programmes. It's only "open" (i.e. heard by all viewers, not just those with special decoder boxes) on some of the Sign Zone programmes... although IIRC it can/could be called up on certain digiboxes by selecting one of the language options - but then you don't get the normal programme sound.

i agree to your opinion.
if you want subtitles you can get them, elsewhere the screen has to be clean.
more subtitles is good, especially for me because it helps me to understand the spoken words. english tv is often to fast for me as swiss.

Oh goodness, is that what we're calling it. I didn't know *what* was going on. I sat down the other night to watch something on beavers, and I can handle the fingering in the corner, she goes away when it's quiet. But there was running commentary on everything the animals and David were up to -- and it was usually pointless because David just said it.

David: The beaver dives down under the water, taking strands of reed to line the inside of their dam

Woman: "A beaver dives down the succulent, crisp water, trailing wisps of cotton-like reeds, tossing up flakes of auburn silt as she enters the steaming dome. David smiles"

Got right on my nerves. Good idea and all that, but hurry up with that button to turn it off.

Well if you will watch programmes about beavers and women fingering...

Well exactly. And quite what the steaming dome is, we'll leave alone.

There was no *filth* warning in the Radio Times was there -- there's no symbol for excessively graphic nature commentary. Mind you, it could become a weekly feature, for the lonely rodent fan.