Audio description

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Audio description on TV in the US

Legislation on audio description on TV in the United States was introduced in 2010, after setbacks to audio description such as the switch from analogue to digital television, and the resistance of the Motion Picture Association to audio description on TV.

In 2010, President Obama signed into law the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 which restores rules set out by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandating audio description on television.

Taxonomy: 
Television
Digital TV
International policy and legislation
Analogue TV
Blind or vision impaired
Audio description
TV access
FCC, Federal Communications Commission

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What is audio description?

Audio description is the auditory narration of visual representations such as television programs, films and live performances. During gaps in dialogue, it describes visual elements such as scenes, settings, actions and costumes..

Audio description is found on TV and DVDs as a separate language track or is accessed by using audio description equipment at a cinema or live performance.

It is particularly beneficial to people who are blind and vision impaired and people with print, learning and physical disabilities.

Taxonomy: 
Video
Education
Cinema
The arts
Web
Television
Blind or vision impaired
Inclusion
Audio description

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Receiver-mixed and broadcast-mixed audio description

Audio description  is delivered as a second audio stream to your television or set-top box, and can be either 'receiver mixed' or 'broadcast mixed'.

With receiver-mixed audio description, the normal audio stream for the program is broadcast, while the second audio stream consists of the audio description narration only, along with signals that lower the sound level on the primary audio stream so that the descriptions can be heard.

With broadcast-mixed audio description, the second audio stream contains both the original soundtrack and the descriptions mixed into it.

Taxonomy: 
Television
Blind or vision impaired
Broadcast-mixed
Audio description
Receiver mixed
TV access

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Audio description on TV in the UK

The United Kingdom has the most developed and regulated market for audio description, which appears on both free-to-air and subscription TV.

Audio description quotas require a maximum of 10% of audio description on TV depending on the size of the channel, with some exemptions for live programming such as news and live sport. In 2008 the highest level channels reached the full 10% quota requirement for audio description, although a number of them exceeded this.

Taxonomy: 
Television
Blind or vision impaired
Audio description
Ofcom, Office of Communications

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MCA offers audio described tour of Annie Liebovitz exhibition

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The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Sydney is offering an audio described tour of the exhibition ‘Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer's Life 1990 – 2005’.

This is due to a demand for the very popular international exhibition to offer audio description services for the blind and vision impaired.

The free tour is with Judith Blackall, MCA Head of Artistic Programs, and is scheduled for 27 February from 2pm - 3pm. Bookings are essential and can be made by contacting the MCA on 02 9245 2484 or by emailing education@mca.com.auThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Taxonomy: 
Blind or vision impaired
The arts
Audio description
News

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