TV industry commits to increased captioning
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, together with organisations representing deaf and hearing impaired people, have brokered an agreement with television broadcasters to commit to major increases in captioned programs over the next four years.
The agreement will ensure the level of captioned television programs between 6am to midnight rises from the current level of 40 per cent to 55 per cent by December 2005, and 70 per cent by the end of 2007.
The agreement also includes a five-year exemption for the television industry from complaints under the Disability Discrimination Act about levels of captioning. The exemption was granted by the Commission following an application by the industry which was publicly supported by peak Australian deaf or hearing impaired organisations. It also followed a public inquiry conducted by the Commission on the issue.
"This agreement shows the advantages of forming partnerships to reduce systemic discrimination," said Deputy Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes.
"The TV industry needs time to increase captioning and the five-year exemption provides them with this. However, the industry has made a clear commitment to take this issue forward so that the almost two million deaf and hearing impaired Australians who use captions can have equal access to a much greater range of programs."
Captions are similar to subtitles, but also provide a description of the sounds in a television broadcast. They are obtained by switching on a decoder available in most modern television sets.
In addition to being utilised by deaf or hearing impaired people, captions are also used by many thousands of people whose first language is not English, or who experience literacy difficulties. They also benefit people in noisy environments such as sports bars and aeroplanes.
"I congratulate the industry and consumer groups for reaching this compromise, and am particularly pleased that there will be an emphasis on children's programming as part of this increase," Deputy Commissioner Innes said.
Media Contact: Paul Oliver (02) 9284 9880 or 0408 469 347
