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RNID - Ofcom Lobby Video
Commissioned by the RNID Parliamentary Unit to produce a fast turnaround video in support of the lobbying campaign to OFCOM to increase the provision of subtitles on television.
The key messages were that:
- 5 million people in the UK use subtitles regularly, with 1 million totally reliant on them to enjoy television
- Costs for subtitling have fallen dramatically in recent years and continue to do so
- Ministers gave repeated assurances to Parliament, during the passage of the Communications Act, that annually increasing targets would continue to be set.
" It is crucial that Ofcom prioritises the needs of those excluded from TV. Just 10% of cable and satellite channel programmes will have to be subtitled for the next five years.
I hope that even at this eleventh hour Ofcom will rethink its current feeble proposals, and use its powers to make sure television is accessible for deaf and hard of hearing people," said RNID chief executive Dr John Low.
Ofcom figures say that more than 90% of subtitling comes from just 50 of the TV channels available in the UK and the campaign is particularly aimed at the many digital channels.
CAMPAIGN UPDATE:
The OFCOM campaign was ultimately successful and according to the RNID press release resulted in a Code that will "dramatically improve the choice of television programmes available for millions of deaf and hard of hearing people".
For more information visit www.rnid.org.uk/ofcom
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