What is Audio Description?
(This applies to Sky digital only)
Audio Description is a free service that transforms the enjoyment of TV for people with sight problems. Like a narrator telling a story, an additional commentary describes body language, expressions and movements - giving people sight through sound.
Sky has been providing audio description since 2000. We now provide over 25,000 hours of audio description a year on Sky TV channels.
What does Sky do?
Sky provides over 25,000 hours of audio description a year on the following channels:-
- Sky Movies
- Sky Sports
- Sky 1
- Sky 2
- Sky 3
How is it done?
Sky works with ‘voice artists’ who produce the audio descriptions. They are also skilled at script writing, so it is up to them to explain what is happening in the gaps between dialogue. We record their voices and the audio description, together with any natural background sound in the scene, and then it is delivered to you through your set-top box at home.
How do you get it?
It’s easy to turn on the audio description facility; this is how:
• Press the ‘services’ button at the top of your remote control
Then press number 4 for SYSTEM SETUP
• Press number 3 for LANGUAGE & SUBTITLES
• Highlight ‘Audio Description’ and use the right/left arrow key to change to ‘ON’
• Use the down arrow key to highlight ‘Highlighted Programmes‘, and use the left/right arrow key change to ‘AUDIO DES’
• Highlight ‘Beep on Audio Description‘, and use the right/left arrow key to change to ‘ON’
• Highlight ‘Save New Settings’ and press ‘select’ on your remote
• You can return to your TV channel by pressing the ‘Sky’ button
So now, when you press ‘tv guide’ on your remote control, audio described programmes will be easily identifiable as the programme titles will be highlighted against a white background (instead of blue). When you select the programme, the audio description will be there automatically.
As you channel hop a beep will sound if the programme you select features audio description, again helping you to identify programmes with this service easily.
What to do now?
Take a look at: http://www.jointhebiggerpicture.com/IncludingEveryone/Accessibility/TVGuide.aspx (opens in a new window)