What is sign language?
(This applies to Sky digital only)
What is sign language?
British Sign language (BSL) is a language in its own right, using hand movements and facial expressions to represent letters, words or phrases.
In the spring of 2003 the Government formally recognised the existence of BSL. It is used by deaf people within the United Kingdom and has more users than the Welsh Language.
Sky has been providing in-vision sign language since 2000. We now provide over 5,000 hours of sign language a year on Sky TV channels.
What does Sky do?
Sky provides sign language on the following channels:
- Sky Movies
- Sky News, Wednesday and Friday 8pm-10pm and Saturday 1pm-3pm
- Sky One
- Sky Two
- Sky Three
- Sky Sports News Wednesday and Friday 1am-5am
- Sky Real Lives (various times)
- more channels to follow
How is it done?
A team of highly qualified and experienced interpreters are part of the SSLT (Sky Sign Language Team).
Live
The SSLT (Sky Sign Language Team), who are highly skilled interpreters, prepare for live shows by watching previous programmes in the series to get a good understanding of the plot and an idea of what may happen next. This helps them to capture the feelings and emotions of the conversations and to show it through their body language when the programme is aired live.
Pre-recorded
For pre-recorded programmes the interpreters will have watched the programme before (probably several times). Then the sign language interpretation will be recorded in a studio in time to the programme.
How do you get it?
Normally sign language interpretation will automatically appear on your TV when any programme carries it.
But to activate the signing on Sky News;
- Press the red button on your remote
- Select Sky News Active
- Scroll to the box that has Signed and select
- To return back to the main News channel, press the Sky button
What to do now?
Take a look at our TV Guide to find out which Sky programmes have sign language over the coming week.