BBC News 24 - Signed

Hi,

I just flicked onto News 24 at 12:57, and it was the weather, okay, pretty normal, huh? Then programme trailers, followed by a 15sec countdown. All normal.

Then, at 1PM, the headlines were not fullscreen, instead a woman was at the bottom right, signing it. Same throughout the program. Even the top of the hour clip was shown with a woman in view.

I don't usually watch News 24 during the day, so is it always like this? If it's going to be permanent, I think there should be an option to disable it, so those of us who aren't deaf can still see it full screen.

I think it is a good idea for those who are deaf though.

How long has it been like this? http://web.ukonline.co.uk/tv.home/forum/emoticons/confused.gif

Also, is BBC World doing the same?

(Edited by Mr Videowall at 1:17 pm on Nov. 29, 2001)

It's been like it for quite a few months now - it was definitely there over the summer!

I presume it is there for deaf/hard-of-hearing viewers who are unable to watch the BBC One O'clock on BBC ONE, and so are given the option of watching it signed on N24. Hearing viewers can then flick to BBC ONE if they don't wish to view the signing.

That's my opinion anyway! Can anyone back me up or prove me wrong?

When does the signing start and when does it finish?

It starts at 13.00 and ends at c. 13.29 when the weather ends.

Really? Ooh, they've extended it then. When I last watched, they did it until the 1.15pm headlines.

Cheers, Asa

Yeah .. that was a more recent addition - they did it till 1.15 until the summer and then extended it later. I presume because the venture.

A mistake on News 24 occured at 3:30pm today - so instead of creating a new topic, I'll post here..

Basically, after the weather had finished, during the ident for News 24 (RTS Award Winner), it cut back to weather, and you could hear the music in the background, with the weather man looking directly at the camera.

A few seconds later it cut back to the end of the ident, and into the studio.

Yes, the presenter can hear the ident, as it is played out in the studio aswell.

I also remember watching the BBC News 24 online feed when BBC Breakfast was on, and the signing lady was on there as well.

BBC World AFAIK does not do the in vision signing. Most likely, it'll be subtitles/closed captioning, but that's my guess.

(Edited by EDTV at 8:56 am on Nov. 29, 2001)

Probably 2 reasons why World is not signed :

1. The BBC signs in British Sign Language - this is not used universally across the world, and indeed is not used in all native English spoken word countries. The US use ASL (American Sign Language) which is not the same at all. It is likely that only UK deaf viewers would understand the signing - and World is not officially broadcast to the UK.

2. News 24 is signed 0800-0815 and 1300-1329 Weekdays (and some editions of Straight Talk etc are also broadcast with signing overnight)

There is a requirement for all commercial digital TERRESTRIAL broadcasters to sing a proportion of their shows - rising each year. The BBC has agreed to match this - and may be compelled to in future legislation. This is why News 24 and Choice broadcast a few signed programmes. BBC One broadcasts the Deaf Zone - and I'm not sure about BBC Two.

Some broadcasters - C4 I think - only sign on terrestrial, but not other digital platforms - the BBC sign on all digital outlets.

Channel 4 sign on cable for Hollyoaks but what I can't fathom out is that they only say it's on terrestrial. And also, BBC Knowledge signs a lot of programming on weekend mornings and ITV2 sign Crossroads.

I think it's right they sign programmes and a good thing that they sign in daytime so it's a convenient time for viewers and won't interrupt many people who can hear who might not like it.