Described Video Best Practices and Guidelines for the Canadian Broadcasting Industry

1. Described Video Best Practices and Guidelines for the Canadian Broadcasting Industry • Accessing Higher Ground • Denver, Colorado • November 6th, 2013 • Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) • Robert Pearson • Director, • Accessible Digital Media

2. INTRODUCTION • 20 years of making media accessible • Not-for-profit organization • CRTC mandated and funded by Canada’s cable and satellite operators • Operate three digital broadcast services and one website www.ami.ca • 11 local broadcast centres across Canada @a11ymedia

3. OVERVIEW • Through three world leading services, AMI enriches lives and creates a more accessible Canada AMI-tv en Français launching 2015 @a11ymedia

4. AMI-audio • The worlds largest broadcast reading service • Available with basic digital package at no additional cost • Founded on the belief that all members of society should have equal access to current news and information • Accessed through basic and digital cable, satellite, IPTV and the internet into 10-million + Canadian homes • More than 400 Volunteers from across the country read and record full-text, spoken-word versions of current articles from leading newspapers and magazines • Staff and Volunteers broadcast 70 hours of new programming every week • Produce and broadcast original content, including ‘Pop Talk’, ‘Contact’, ‘Choice Words’ and local features across the country @a11ymedia

5. AMI-tv • The worlds first and only open described, closed captioned digital TV service • Available with basic digital package at no additional cost • Broadcasts popular movies and TV series (Canadian and American) with open description and closed captioning • Broadcast Simulcast and describe live major events and popular programs such as the Royal Wedding, the Federal election, Remembrance Day, Battle of the Blades; a Canadian reality show, Toronto Blue Jays Baseball and the Paralympics • Produce and broadcast original content, including ‘Accessibility in Action’, ‘A Whole New Light’, ‘Sports Access’ , ‘Canada in Perspective’ and ‘Milestone of Champions’ • Blind and low vision reporters offering a unique perspective with relevant content through a positive portrayal @a11ymedia

6. MANDATE AMI DELIVERS ON THE CANADIAN BROADCASTING ACT MANDATE WHICH STATES: “ That programming accessible by disabled persons should be provided within the Canadian broadcasting system as resources become available for the purpose. ” @a11ymedia

7. MANDATE AMI MISSION STATEMENT: “ ” To Make All Media Accessible To All Canadians @a11ymedia

8. WE CALL IT DESCRIBED VIDEO… • Described video (DV) is a narrated description of a program's main visual elements, such as settings, costumes, or body language • Works best for pre-recorded programs, such as dramas and documentaries • Described video uses a separate audio track • Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requires broadcasters to provide at least 4 hours per week of described programming @a11ymedia

9. WE CALL IT DESCRIBED VIDEO… • Audio description (AD) uses a program host or announcer to provide a basic voice-over, reading text and describing graphics that appear on the screen • Broadcasters are expected to provide audio description @a11ymedia

10. POST PRODUCTION DV • Descriptions are added to the program after the show has been produced and packaged • Involves a scriptwriter, a narrator, an audio mixer and a producer • Descriptions are added wherever there is room within the dialogue in the program. • Sometimes it is necessary to speak over the program dialogue to convey essential visual details • Live • Embedded • Extended @a11ymedia

11. STATE OF DV IN CANADA • CRTC requires broadcasters to provide at least 4 hours per week of described programming • AMI-tv available 24/7 • CRTC and Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Described Video Working Group • Technical: One button solution, DV on HD, EPG display DV • Awareness: DV TV Guide and 1800 number, PSA @a11ymedia

12. DSECRIBED VIDEO BEST PRACTICES • Member from 14 organizations (Community Groups, Broadcasters, Producers, Description Houses, Canadian Association of Broadcasters) • Described Video Best Practices; Artistic and Technical Guidelines to be submitted to the CRTC in July 2013 @a11ymedia

13. SCIENCE AND ART • What is the correct interpretation? • Bring everyone to the table • Find common ground in the science • Analyze, prioritize and agree upon the art • Lead the industry to uniformity • Adopt the standard and increase availability • Strive for cultural inclusion @a11ymedia

14. SCIENCE Common similarities in process, function and meaning @a11ymedia

15. ART Analyzing, prioritizing and agreeing upon artistic differences while ensuring that the need for quantity does not affect the quality @a11ymedia

16. DESCRIBED VIDEO BEST PRACTICES Industry adopted Described Video Best Practices + Internally developed guidelines based upon the unique experiences of each producer = Consistent and good quality DV in Canada @a11ymedia

17. ACHIEVING CONSISTENCY • Four tenets for achieving consistency • Industry Best Practices are dominant • Descriptive content will be created at the discretion of the describer and the content of the program being described • Relevancy to the program? • More than just instructions on page @a11ymedia

18. THREE LEVELS OF DESCRIPTION • Three levels of description • Primary descriptions – Descriptions that are absolutely crucial to the understanding of story development. • Secondary descriptions – Descriptions that are defined as being important but not absolutely essential to the understanding of story development. • Tertiary descriptions – Stylistic descriptions that are encouraged when time allows for them. @a11ymedia

19. ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL GUIDELINES @a11ymedia

20. CHARACTERISTICS @a11ymedia

21. SCENE TRANSITIONS @a11ymedia

22. VISUAL EFFECTS @a11ymedia

23. NON-VERBAL SOUNDS @a11ymedia

24. TEXT ON SCREEN @a11ymedia

25. STYLE AND TONE @a11ymedia

26. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES @a11ymedia

27. NEXT STEPS • Continue with the success of the volunteer initiative • Nuances of French description best practices. • Live description best practices. • Embedded description best practices. • Explore funding options; Broadcasting Accessibility Fund • Expand upon the ‘More DV concept’ • Begin public consultation • Adoption beyond the Canadian broadcasting environment @a11ymedia

28. CURRENT AFFAIRS • Described Video (DV) TV Guide; an aggregate list of the DV programming available through most providers across the country • Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) Research Panel; bringing blind and partially-sighted individuals together to help shape the future of accessible media in Canada @a11ymedia

29. DV GUIDE (AMI.ca/dvguide/) @a11ymedia

30. AMI RESEARCH PANEL • “Help Improve Accessible Media in Canada” • “If you are blind or partially sighted, AMI invites you to help shape accessible media in Canada.” • As of November 2013: • +800 members • Nationwide representation • 76% low vision; 24% blind • Beta testing, Mobile needs assessment, programming insights @a11ymedia

31. CASE STUDY; CANADA • Canada is unique within an environment of governmental, industry and community support • The establishment of AMI • Focus on Canadian culture • Building a collaborative base upon which to build a standard • With a similar intent Canada could be considered a model for media accessibility accommodations in any country @a11ymedia

32. STAYING IN TOUCH • http://www.ami.ca • Twitter: @a11ymedia • Facebook: Accessible Media Inc. • YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/accessiblemedia/ @a11ymedia

33. THANK YOU! @a11ymedia