[real-eyes] Video Description&DTV
- From: "Reginald George" <sgeorge@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:51:54 -0500
The following interesting information came from the
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvvideodescription.html
web site. What I hadn't noted before was that the SAP channel is no longer
used. Still not sure how that effects us.
Impact of Digital Television Transition on Video Description
With digital television, broadcasters have more audio channels on which to
provide video description. Because digital television encodes audio in a
different manner than the encoding used in analog television, digital
television does not utilize a SAP channel to transmit video descriptions. The
digital television standards provide for two types of main audio service and
six types of associated services, including associated services for people with
vision disabilities. The standards also permit the transmission of secondary
language programming. So while there was one option under the old analog TV
service (I.e., the SAP channel), broadcasters now have more audio channels to
provide this voluntary service. However, we note that inserting video
descriptions into digital programming that was not created by the distributor
may involve additional expense for broadcasters; for this reason, consumers
should contact their local broadcasters to determine whether video description
is offered.
Televisions with digital tuners should be able to process the audio services
associated with the digital TV signals through functions that are built into
their systems. Consumers should confirm with the manufacturer, owner's manual
or retailer prior to purchase to determine if this feature is included in the
digital TV. For consumers who will be using a digital-to-analog converter box
to receive digital over-the-air television signals on an analog television, we
note that some of the digital-to-analog converter boxes that have been approved
for NTIA coupon eligibility are capable of processing the associated audio
services that are broadcast by a digital television station. In particular, the
WGBH National Center for Accessible Media, located in Boston, Massachusetts,
has found that two specific coupon-eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes -
the Digital Stream DTX 9900 and Insignia NS-DXA1 - have demonstrated the
capability to pass through video description.¹ (Federal law provides for two
$40.00 coupons per household to defer the costs of the digital-to-analog
converter boxes. Consumers may find out more information about this coupon
program, administered by the NTIA, at www.dtv.gov or at www.dtv2009.gov, or by
calling 1-888-DTV-2009.) However, because coupon-eligible digital-to-analog
converter boxes are not required to have this feature, consumers are advised to
check with the manufacturer, owner's manual or retailer prior to purchase to
determine if a specific digital-to-analog converter box will serve their
particular needs. Accessing additional audio program streams (including video
description) typically occurs either though a designated button on the remote
control or through an on-screen menu. Unfortunately, if the controls on the
television or digital-to-analog converter box are not accessible to people with
vision disabilities, it may be a challenge to obtain the descriptions. In such
cases, the consumer must know which audio stream the video description is on in
advance, as well as how to access this channel. We therefore urge consumers to
ask the manufacturer or retailer how audio streams are accessed prior to
purchasing a digital television or digital-to-analog converter box. In
addition, the consumer should ask whether the on-screen menus - as well as the
remote controls that are used to access the on-screen menus - are accessible to
individuals who have vision disabilities. Finally, the consumer should contact
local television stations to see if they are transmitting video descriptions,
and if so, for which programs.
Consumers using cable or satellite services should ask for additional
information about the availability of video description from their service
providers. To the extent that cable systems, satellite systems or other
multi-channel video programming distributors receive programming with video
description, those video descriptions should be delivered to the consumer. As
with broadcast television, subscription-based television consumers must ensure
that their television is capable of displaying available video descriptions and
that video description functionality may be accessed by people with vision
disabilities.
For More Information
To find out more about the digital television transition, visit our Web site at
www.dtv.gov
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