SRG expands services for the hearing and visually impaired
In 2013, the SRG improved its services for people with hearing and visual impairments. Programs were provided with subtitles, translated into sign language, or supplemented with «audio description»—a continuous audio description of the film’s plot.
The law requires SRG to subtitle its TV channels for one third of the broadcasting time. Last year, this requirement was met and even slightly exceeded, according to a statement. SRG has also agreed to offer subtitled broadcasts on the Internet. The offer is to be implemented this year. In addition, news broadcasts were translated into sign language for the deaf in all three language regions. In German-speaking Switzerland, the main edition of the "Tagesschau" was translated daily into sign language and broadcast parallel to the program on SRF info. In addition, the speeches of the Federal Councillors and the program "Kassensturz" were broadcast. For the deaf in French-speaking Switzerland, the main edition of "19h30" was broadcast daily in parallel in sign language on RTS Deux. RSI's "Telegiornale flash" was translated daily into sign language.
The offer for the visually impaired has also been expanded, SRG writes further. German speakers in particular could have benefited from this. They had access to 101 programs with audio description. In French-speaking Switzerland, 45 films and in Ticino 24 films were broadcast with audio description. (SDA)
