Latest News

April 2012
Date Published News headline and description
11 April 2012 New app increases access to theatre for the hearing impaired

A new service from Adelaide-based The Captioning Studio allows patrons to access theatre captions on their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch in selected venues. The app gives Deaf and hearing impaired theatre goers the freedom to sit in any seat in the theatre to enjoy a captioned performance.

10 April 2012 Illinois cinema chain ordered to become accessible

One of the USA’s largest cinema companies, AMC Theaters, has reached a settlement with the Attorney General of Illinois which will see closed captioning and audio description provided in 460 cinema screens across the state. The case arose after concerns were raised by Illinois disability rights advocacy organisation Equip for Equality.

04 April 2012 Accessible cinema comes to Bendigo

Village Cinemas Bendigo will this week commence audio described and closed captioned movies at its 7-screen complex. This will see access to movies greatly enhanced for people with a hearing or vision impairment in regional Victoria.

03 April 2012 Cinema to make significant progress in 2012

Australia’s four major cinema chains, Hoyts, Event, Village and Reading, have announced their plan for the rollout of accessible cinema locations to June 2012. This rollout will see the installation of audio description in a number locations which currently only have captions.

March 2012
Date Published News headline and description
05 March 2012 Audio description introduced in four Melbourne cinemas

Village Cinemas has commenced audio description in four of its suburban Melbourne complexes, greatly increasing the number of accessible cinemas for people across the city who are blind and vision impaired.

February 2012
Date Published News headline and description
17 February 2012 Morocco’s film festival supports audio described movies

For the second year running the Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) has showcased audio described movies for its blind and vision impaired patrons. Featuring eight movies in total, from 1950s classics to local Moroccan productions, the described program is the first of its kind in Africa.

January 2012
Date Published News headline and description
25 January 2012 American cinema formalises commitment to accessible movies

After an informal announcement in August, American Multi-Cinema Inc (AMC) has officially committed to captioning in its complexes across the USA. Although audio description has not been a part of the announcement, the rollout will also include this feature.

19 January 2012 US independent cinema chain commits to closed captions

The USA’s largest independent cinema chain, Landmark Cinemas, has agreed to implement closed captions in conjunction with its conversion to digital cinema. Plans for converting to digital will be finalised by mid-2012 and may not include all of Landmark’s locations but the chain will investigate alternative captioning possibilities for the remaining analogue sites.

16 January 2012 Melbournians invited to have their say on new captioning technology

IMAX Melbourne is seeking feedback from Deaf and hearing impaired cinema goers on its trial of the new Rear Window Captioning system. The cinema is inviting people to test out the new technology and answer a short survey on their experience.

16 January 2012 Hunter cinema delivers the goods for blind movie-goers

Going to the movies just got a whole lot more enjoyable for people who are blind or vision impaired in the Hunter region of NSW, with the introduction of audio description at Reading Cinemas, Charlestown.

13 January 2012 Report on 2011 rollout of accessible cinema locations in Australia

2011 was a year of progress in accessible cinema as the Federal Government's rollout of captions and audio description across the four cinema chains of Hoyts, Village, Event/Greater Union/Birch Carroll & Coyle and Reading came into action.

11 January 2012 Perth’s Shakespeare in the Park features an audio described session

Shakespeare WA has paired up with the Association for the Blind WA to bring A Comedy of Errors to blind and vision impaired theatre fans. A special session of the comedy will be held on 1 February with audio description to convey the visual elements of the performance.

06 January 2012 Audio description at the Sydney Festival this January

Vision Australia will be providing audio description for the first time during the Sydney Festival this month. Three diverse events in late January will offer patrons who are blind and vision impaired the opportunity to listen to audio description delivered live, describing the visual elements of the performance.

03 January 2012 Perth cinema allows families to share the movie experience

West Australian families have another entertainment option for their summer holidays with the introduction of audio described and captioned movies at Event Cinemas, Innaloo.

December 2011
Date Published News headline and description
15 December 2011 Top accessible gifts for the festive season

If someone you know is blind, vision impaired, Deaf or hearing impaired, there are a number of accessible gifts that can help improve their access to and enjoyment of media this festive season.

13 December 2011 The Captioning Studio wins Human Rights Award

A captioning services provider has won a Human Rights Award for its contribution to the inclusion of people with hearing loss. The Australian Human Rights Commission awarded The Captioning Studio in the business category.

08 December 2011 Advanced session of Mission: Impossible with access features to be screened in Brisbane

Event Cinemas has notified Media Access Australia that on Wednesday 14 December an advance screening of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol with closed captions and audio description will be held at Brisbane’s Myer Centre.

07 December 2011 Adelaide cinema extends open caption screenings of Twilight: New Dawn

Due to an unforeseen delay in the rollout of the new accessible program at Adelaide’s Marion cinema, Twilight: New Dawn Part One will screen for one more week with open captions. The cinema intends to screen movies with closed captions and audio description, increasing access to movies for people who have impaired hearing or vision.

06 December 2011 Captions shown on US flights

LiveTV, a US company which provides inflight entertainment, has announced that it can now provide closed captioning on the television content available on aircraft

01 December 2011 Two new Sydney cinemas commence captioned movies

Hoyts Cinemas has begun closed captioned sessions at an extra two cinemas, adding to the five cinemas previously announced as commencing today.