In recent months I have been working with the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in the switchover to digital TV.
Audio Description is like a person telling a story. A narrator will describe the visual elements of a programme that a person who is blind or partially sighted would otherwise miss. It is such a simple idea but one that has the potential to make a massive difference to the lives of people with sight problems.
Last summer I managed to get the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham to agree to change the core receiver requirements for the digital help scheme. The help scheme is part of the switchover to digital television, everyone over 75 or with certain disabilities will receive a digibox from the government, either free of change or for a very small fee. Thanks to the changes that we have made those boxes will now be capable of receiving audio described broadcasts.The amount of people who are aware of the potential benefits of audio description is rising all the time, however we are fast getting to a position where the only way to raise awareness even more is by having more content that is audio described. At the moment TV companies tend to focus their efforts on the programmes that the most people watch, soaps, big dramas and films. However, if you don't like those sort of programmes, then it is unlikely you will use audio description much even if you are aware of the service.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have started a campaign to get broadcasters to audio describe at least 20% of their output. Sky have already agreed to this and I have congratulated them in my Westminster Hall debate on the topic. BBC1 already audio describe around 14% of their total output with BBC3 and BBC4 both already over the 20% mark. 20% is not too much to ask. The Secretary of State has asked Ofcom to conduct an 'Access Services Review' which we hope will report in the Autumn, and with any luck it will be the first step on the road to 20% audio described programming in the UK!