In 2010 the FCC launched an investigation into the cable TV provider Comcast, following complaints that the company’s set-top boxes were not passing through closed captions. This investigation has now been terminated, with Comcast agreeing to take steps to rectify the problems, and to make a voluntary contribution of US$500,000 to the United States Treasury.
In June 2012, the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth) (BSA) was amended to include caption quotas for subscription television for the first time.
ASTRA, whose members include FOXTEL and AUSTAR, earlier this year sought a five-year temporary exemption from the DDA, meaning that the AHRC would not hear complaints against the members of ASTRA on the grounds of disability discrimination. In exchange for the exemption, ASTRA had offered to raise the level of captioning on 65 of the 91 channels operated by its members.
The AHRC has previously granted such temporary exemptions to subscription television broadcasters.
FOX SPORTS 1HD/1, FOX SPORTS 2HD/2 and FOX SPORTS 3HD/3 will all be offering live captioning on both national sporting events and a number of their top magazine shows such as NRL on FOX and The Rugby Club.
FOX SPORTS uses Ai-Media for live captions.
