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N.E. Region Visual Impairment and the Rothay Consultancy Tapes - Help and Information.
All about audio description
Contact details are listed in the bottom section
1. Audio description (AD) assists visually impaired people appreciate performances on the screen or stage. It consists of a verbal commentary that fills in the gaps in the performance where there is no dialogue, thus enabling viewers with sight problems to watch the programme independently without the need for a sighted person having to be present explaining the plot. The commentary includes descriptions of such things as action sequences, facial expression, body language, costume, written text and scenery. AD is available in some movies, some digital television broadcasts, a few DVDs and a even fewer stage performances.
2. Television AD is broadcast on digital Freeview terrestrial and is available from Integrated Digital Television sets (known as an IDTV) This is a TV with a Freeview set-top box built-in with everything controlled from one remote control. All Freeview devices require an aerial feed from a conventional UHF TV external aerial in a digital TV reception area. You may need an aerial upgrade if your current one is old or unsuitable. Please note that these TVs do not have any spoken announcements to tell you which channel you have selected or assistance with the electronic programme guides.
Panasonic has a 2007 range of IDTV models below that can deliver audio description. Models beginning The are Plasma screens and models starting TX are LCD screens; the first two digits indicate the screen size in inches.
The Panasonic ones are particularly good because the remote control is really easy to see and they are the only ones that allow people to listen to the AD through headphones so as not to disturb others who don't want the AD.TH-65PZ700B
TH-58PZ700B
TH-50PZ70B
TH-42PZ70B
TH-50PX700B
TH-42PX700B
TH-50PX70B
TH-42PX70B
TH-37PX70B
TH-50PX7B
TH-42PX7B
TH-37PX7B
TX-32LXD700
TX-32LXD70
TX-26LXD70
TX-32LMD70
TX-26LMD70
TX-32LXD7
TX-26LXD7Sony has a 2007 range of IDTV models listed below that can deliver audio description. Note that the suffix U means UK but some vendors may not include the U. As long as you buy from a UK supplier you should be OK. Use care, there are similar numbered, but not exactly the same, models which do not include AD. These models have an AV2 SCART socket which can deliver an AV output into a recording device which is has an AV input facility - useful if you wish to record a prorgramme with AD.
KDL-26S3000U
KDL-26S3010U
KDL-32S3000U
KDL-32S3010U
KDL-40S3000U
KDL-40S3010U
KDL-32D3000U
KDL-40D3000U
KDL-46S3000U
KDL-46S3010U
KDL-46D3000U
KDL-20S3000U
KDL-20S3020U
KDL-32T3000U
KDL-40T3000U
KDL-40HD1080
KDL-46T3000U
KDL-46HD1080Freeview Digital set top box - A first version of a new set top box designed for the analogue to digital transmission changeover 2007-2013 has been manufactured and is available online from Currys, although you may get a shop to order it for delivery to your home. If you are registered blind or partially sighted you will probably get this box free when your area changes to digital. The NE is 2012. To buy one now you must be careful get the correct description it is the LOGIK LDR V3 Set Top Box. Part No. 739395
Portset Digital Media Centre only receives the audio of TV without any picture from a Freeview TV programmes plus AD . This is a stand-alone device that offers sound-only including access to electronic programme guides; a CD and daisy talking book player and a recording function. It takes an optional top-up pay TV card.
Using a PC (personal computer) to receive and record TV with AD is to install a Nebular Freeview DigiTV card or external USB box which still requires a good TV aerial feed. This system needs a recent (>2005) PC. It includes recording to the PC Hard disk for later viewing, which can be later written to DVDs, but currently this does not transfer the AD track to the DVD, a shortcoming which Nebular engineers are promising to resolve eventually.
3. Television AD is also available on all Sky TV boxes , to activate this service you will need to go into "services", select "System Set-up" and then "Language and Subtitles". Scroll to "Audio Description" and use the left and right arrow keys to turn description on. Scroll down to "Save new settings" or "Narrative" and press "Select". You can also set up your TV so that you hear a short beep whenever you tune to a programme broadcasting audio description. To do this, follow the steps above until you are in the "Languages and Subtitles" menu, then scroll down to "Beep if Narrative present". Now use the left or right arrow keys to switch this feature on or off. Scroll down to "Save New Settings" and press "Select". If you want to switch audio description on or off temporarily whilst watching a programme, press the "Help" key. A banner will appear with "Audio Description" and "Subtitles". Highlight Audio Description using the up and down arrow keys, then use left of right arrow keys to switch on or off; press "Select" to continue viewing. A new feature recently introduced by Sky is that you can now set your system so that it highlights all programmes that are audio described in white on your on-screen TV Guide. To turn this feature on, follow the steps above until you are in Languages And Subtitles" menu, then scroll down to "Highlighted Programmes". Use the right arrow key to select Audio Description, then scroll down to "Save New Settings" and press "Select". To receive audio description you will need to watch:
* BBC1 on channel 974
* ITV1 on channel 993
* ITV2 on channel 118
*. Channel 4 on channel 994
* Five on channel 105
* Channel 744 for Sky Box Office Movies with audio description.4. Television AD cable TV services AD is gradually becoming available on some channels over 2006 to 2007 from Telewest and NTL cable lines. Recording from Sky or cable again requires the use of a SCART cable to the recorder.
5. At local cinemas the Newcastle Odeon, Gateshead Metro Centre UCI, Hexham Forum, Hartlepool Vue, Darlington Odeon and Middlesbrough Cineworld UGC where most have at least one AD show on each week.
6. At theatres which are suitably equipped or when provided by another specialist such as VocalEyes or the RSC which does occur from time to time. If you like the theatre this is very worthwhile you need to tell the Theatre Royal and Northern Stage you are interested in AD and they will send you a special mailshot in time to take the front stalls reserved seats before they are opened to the public. Remember to state you wish to attend an AD performance (your ticket should have this included) and you should be able to get your guide a seat free, this is a disability safety concession.
7. For both theatres and cinemas you must collect your AD headsets from the shop or ticket desk before you go in. Be sure you get instructions how to use them first. They usually have one on-off switch which should have been left off otherwise the battery may need re-charging. There is often a channel selection switch which should already be set correctly. There will also be a slider or rotating volume control, sometimes one for each ear - you need to set this to 'loud' before the show starts. In those extra loud cinema audio systems the headphones make quite a good volume damper but in theatres you may have to remove one earpiece from time to time if the performance is quiet.
8. So how do I find what is available with AD. - This is the tricky one to do independently when you cannot see - In fact some newspapers and do include an (AD) suffix in TV programme listings. The cinema newspaper adverts also indicate an AD movie, so if you can get someone who can see go through the papers you should be OK. The TV Netgem box can connect to the Internet and speaks out available AD programmes from the Favourites menu by accessing Channel 900 maintained by Clive Miller . You can subscribe to TNAUK for the talking Radio Times, Or if you have a computer connecting to the Internetsee Channel 900 here it is from the www.rnib.org.uk web site, or from the Radio times web site try the Radio Times website. All TV broadcasters have websites listing their programme schedules, which in theory should be the most up to date as weekly listing go to press ten days in advance. You can request free weekly e-mails for AD cinema shows in the next week or ring them up. For theatre AD shows we have to rely on the newspapers or the proprietors advising Tynesound news and friends.
9. There are some DVDs of movies and at least one DVD is released every week now which includes optional descriptive narration or AD from the start-up menu This can be often difficult to determine from the covers or adverts of commercial DVDs. However RNIB do produce commercial DVD listings as well as their VCR videos visit RNIB Audio Described Videos. If you have difficulty following the plot of a movie then this is where the DVD with AD comes into its own because you can easily pause and replay bits.
* Contacts:
* To find if you are in a terrestrial digital TV area Telephone Freeview on 08708 80 99 80 or visit Freeview information website
Freeview Digital set top box visit Currys
* Top-up TV Telephone 08700 543210 or visit Top up TV information website
* The Nebular DigiTV pci card or usb box is available from Nebula Telephone 01689 897 or online from others or visit Nebular website
* Portset Media Centre Telephone 01489 893919 or email admin@portset.co.uk
* Sky offers a no-subscription service called "Freesat". For a one-off fee of about £150 you get a Sky set-top box, a dish, installation and around 120 TV and 80 radio channels. For more information about Freesat Telephone 0870 606 1111 or visit Sky accessible information website
* Vigin cable AD setup Telephone 0800 0522000 or visit Virgin information website
* RNIB Helpline Telephone 020 7391 2398 or 0845 766 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk/audiodescription.
* TNAUK Talking NationaNewspaper Association UK Telephone 01435 866102 or email TNAUK
* VocalEyes Telephone 020 7375 1043 website or email VocalEyes
* Newcastle Odeon Telephone 0191 230 4450 (or 0191 230 4435 for management)
* Gateshead Metro Centre UCI Telephone 0871 2244007
* Hexham Forum 01434 601144
* Newcastle Theatre Royal Telephone 0870 905 5060
* Newcastle Disability Forum 0191 285 4556 or email Gordon at NDF about Audio Description
DISCLAIMER The information contained in this information note is understood to be correct at April 2006 but cannot be guaranteed. If you have any additional relevant details please pass them on.