Government to investigate audio-described TV

The move, welcomed by blindness and low vision advocates throughout Australia, will see mbers of the broadcasting and streaming industries meet with audio description service providers and consumer representatives. Vision Australia lead policy advisor Mr Bruce Maguire said it was a significant step toward making audio-described programming available.“Audio description services have been available internationally since the 1980s. Television is a very important part of Australia’s cultural, recreational and social life where asking someone ‘Did you catch that on TV last night?’ is a regular part of everyday conversation,” Maguire said.“Ironically, viewers in the United Kingdom can enjoy audio-described versions of classic Australian programs such as Home and Away and Neighbours. To date, the blindness and low vision community has been excluded from sharing major cultural, sporting and news highlights with their family and friends. As a result of the government’s decision, we are confident that this situation will change in the not-too-distant future.”The working group will identify options to increase access to audio description services, and also investigate potential technology, financial and copyright challenges.Additionally, it will consider the results of the audio description trials conducted on the ABC in 2012 and 2016, and evaluate alternatives to legislative requirents and incentives.