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What are the most accessible video-on-demand services?

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With consumers increasingly turning to their computers and mobile devices to watch TV programs and movies, the accessibility of video-on-demand services is becoming a critical issue for those who rely on captioning or audio description.

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Media Access Australia’s report Access on Demand, which was released last week, highlights the vast differences in the accessibility of VOD services available in Australia.

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Digital media and technology:

Technologies

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Media Access Australia launches report on the accessibility of video-on-demand services

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Media Access Australia's latest report on the state of play for accessibility on video-on-demand (VOD) services recommends that captioning be introduced on all catch-up TV services by the end of 2015, and all VOD services by the end of 2016.

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Media Access Australia has today launched Access on Demand, a comprehensive report on the accessibility of VOD services in Australia and other countries.

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Review of access to electronic media

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Netflix introduces audio description

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Daredevil, a TV series about a blind superhero, has become the first program on Netflix to have audio description for people who are blind or vision impaired.

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Digital Video Service

Solutions

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Netflix launches in Australia with captions

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The US-based video-on-demand (VOD) service Netflix launched in Australia today. The good news for Deaf and hearing impaired viewers is that virtually all the content is captioned.

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Vision Australia launches audio description campaign

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Vision Australia has launched Tell the Whole Story, a campaign calling for the introduction of audio description on television. The campaign asks that people write to the Minister of Communications, Malcolm Turnbull, to express their need for the service.

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AHRC, Australian Human Rights Commission

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ACMA posts preliminary caption exemptions

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has commenced posting this year’s round of draft exemption and target reduction orders, which exempt channels from having to meet normal captioning requirements for a year or more.

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ACMA, Australian Communications and Media Authority

BSA, Broadcasting Services Act

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TV & Video highlights of 2014: Captions on Plus7

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In April, the Seven Network’s Plus7 became the first commercial TV catch-up service in Australia to provide closed captions on its major programs.

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AMI launches audio described French-language channel

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The Canadian accessibility company Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) has launched AMI-télé, the world's first French-language channel to present its entire schedule with open audio description.

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According to AMI, the service, primarily intended for the blind or partially sighted, will provide general content in French via satellite and cable companies to their subscribers.

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