ABC iview audio description trial moves to desktop computers

Transcript

6 December 2015

Roberta: The trial of audio description on the ABC's online iview service which started in April has now been extended to desktop computers. Media Access Australia's Project Manager, Chris Mikul, is here to discuss progress of the AD trial and its most recent development. Welcome, Chris.

Chris: Hello, Roberta.

Roberta: So what's happening with the trial?

Chris: Well, the good news is that the audio described programs on iview as part of the trial are, as of last week, now available to watch on desktop PCs. So just to recap for l listeners who may not know about it, the trial began in April and it's going until the end of June next year and it's on the ABC catch-up online service, iview. So when it started the programs could only be watched on iPads, iPhones and Android devices, so that limited it a bit. It was supposed to be extended to desktops a few months ago. They did have a few technical problems with that mainly to do with making the site useable for screen readers. But that's all sorted out now, which is good, so a lot more people will now be able to experience the audio description.

Roberta: What programs are being audio described for the trial?

Chris: A good mix of stuff, they're basically adding to hours of programs a day to it. So they're both British and American shows. Some of the programs added in November were Doctor Who, Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime, New Tricks, Fortitude, Please like Me, the Australian comedy, and also How Not to Behave. Some of the programs have been going essentially since the trial started, so things like Australian Story, which are popular programs, and there's also quite a few kids' shows, including ones at the moment, Bubble Bath Bay, Hoopla Doopla, Octonauts and Charlie and Lola. So there's a lot of really good content there.

Roberta: Do we know, Chris, how many people have been watching the programs during the trial?

Chris: Yes, we do. One of the good things that the ABC has been doing since it began is they've been collating figures for how many audio described programs are getting views, so how many people are going online and streaming the programs and watching them. So since it started in April until the end of October almost 44,000 drama and comedy programs have been viewed. In the documentary/factual category the figures almost to 88,000 and interestingly the children's programs have been the most popular of all with over 160,000 viewed. So I think they're pretty impressive figures and they show just how much people want and need this service.

Roberta: Well, that's what I was just going to say. That is amazing because that's exactly what we want the ABC to know so that we can maybe at last get it on the TV.

Chris: Yeah, well, exactly. Most of that is with it not being available on PCs, which a lot of people are going to watch. So these are things that people have been watching on their phones, essentially.

Roberta: So just imagine what many will watch when it's on TV. This is the thing.

Chris: Yeah, exactly.

Roberta: Look out 2016. Now, how do people find the audio described programs, Chris?

Chris: Okay, it's very easy. Go onto the iview site and there's a tab at the top saying, "Programs A – Z". You just click on that. There's a dropdown menu with audio described which you select and that brings up the list of programs. So I went on there about an hour ago and there were 22 programs on there that you can watch. So I really urge listeners to check some of them out because obviously when the trial ends we want it to continue on a regular service and get it on TV and the more people watching it now the better that will be.

Roberta: Indeed, well, thank you for all of that today, Chris.

Chris: Thank you, Roberta.

Roberta: For more information on the ABC iview audio description trial, you can call Media Access Australia on 02 9212 6242. They would love to hear from you and will be able to explain any questions you might have. Email info@mediaacess.org.au or you can also visit the website www.mediaaccess.org.au. Media Access Australia is a supporter of this program.

Go back to ABC iview audio description trial moves to desktop computers page