|
The CRTC is holding a hearing on the accessibility of broadcasting services to persons with disabilities. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) told the Commission that during these tough economic times, it is difficult for Canadian TV to provide the same level of services for the hearing and visually impaired, but it will do the best that it can.
CAB CEO Glenn O'Farrell points out the Broadcasting Act requires that programming be accessible by disabled people as resources become available. Canadian broadcasters have done this by investing a lot of money in closed-captioning technology. Our country now offers the second-highest amount of captioning in the world behind only Britain, which is well-funded by the BBC. In 2007, the CRTC mandated that TV broadcasters in Canada caption 100% of their programs.
In these harsh economic times, the CAB is asking the CRTC to recognize the fiscal reality as it deliberates new policies on accessible broadcasting services.
Last year, the average profit before interest and taxes in the industry was 5%, and it costs between $165 and $300 to do closed captioning for one hour of programming, and around $1,600 per programming hour to produce described video for the visually impaired.
The CAB has formed two working groups, one for English-language TV and one for French, made up of representatives from the public and private sectors and disabled communities, to create uniform standards and protocols for captioning. The group will be asked to create a plan within a year to better promote described video programming. The strategy will include ways to inform Canadians about the new Accessible Channel, which will air 100% described video programming on mandatory digital basic cable. The CAB hopes there will be an equivalent French-language service in the future.
The CRTC asked the CAB to file the numbers for each of its members showing how much they would have to spend to provide accessible service to reach the point of " 'undue hardship.' " The CAB argued that it would be impossible to estimate given the uncertain economy. The Association said that a more appropriate time to ask for this information would be when broadcasters are renewing their licences.
Groups representing people with disabilities asked the CRTC to require broadcasters to provide more services for them, at little to no additional cost. They pointed out that while they are benefiting from new technologies, many devices can't be used by everyone, and plans that allow for full functionality are too costly.
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) asked that all TV broadcasters be required to make 100% of their prime-time programs available with described video. It says that the average of 21 hours a week of described video programming on over-the-air TV and 54 hours by specialty channels is not enough. The CRTC requires described video in drama, documentaries, and children's programming, but the CNIB will like this expanded to included news and sports.
A group representing the hard of hearing complained about the lack of quality of closed-captioning programming among French-language TV networks, especially for live broadcasts.
Source: Cartt, 11/18/2008
|