The Accessible Channel
Encyclopedia
The Accessible Channel is a Canadian
English language
digital cable
specialty channel
owned by Accessible Media. TACtv broadcasts general entertainment programming with an "open" formatusing described video as the primary audio track, and providing closed captioning
for all programming.
TACtv is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as a must-carry service on the basic package of all digital cable, satellite television, and licensed-IPTV
providers in Canada.
, a radio reading service
, which is also a service with mandatory carriage), who proposed a service known as The Accessible Channel, a 24-hour English language channel which would be devoted to providing programming of interest to those who are blind or visually impaired, in a format which would be accessible to those individualsby providing all of its
programming with described video. Unlike other broadcasters offering described video, TAC would use the described video feed as the primary audio track, allowing viewers who cannot properly use or access the second audio program
to still view programming with described video. Of the twelve applications received, four were ultimately approved by the CRTCThe Accessible Channel would be one of them.
The CRTC's standard conditions of license for digital specialty services at the time imposed a requirement that TAC air 90% of its programming with closed captioning
. Nearing the channel's launch, the NBRS announced that to further position the channel as an inclusive channel for those who are visually or hearing impaired, it would provide close captioning for all of its programming as well. The NBRS announced that December 3, 2008, would act as the channel's "soft launch". A gala was held with the objective to raise awareness of TACtv's launch in January 2009. December 3 was the date chosen to coincide with the United Nations´ International Day of Disabled Persons
. The channel subsequently launched on January 29, 2009.
The National Broadcast Reading Service would re-brand itself to Accessible Media in 2010.
feed for The Accessible Channel.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
specialty channel
Specialty channel
A specialty channel can be a commercial broadcasting or non-commercial television channel which consists of television programming focused on a single genre, subject or targeted television market at a specific demographic....
owned by Accessible Media. TACtv broadcasts general entertainment programming with an "open" formatusing described video as the primary audio track, and providing closed captioning
Closed captioning
Closed captioning is the process of displaying text on a television, video screen or other visual display to provide additional or interpretive information to individuals who wish to access it...
for all programming.
TACtv is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as a must-carry service on the basic package of all digital cable, satellite television, and licensed-IPTV
IPTV
Internet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...
providers in Canada.
History
On March 27, 2007, the CRTC held a public hearing to consider twelve applications from applicants who were requesting mandatory distribution for their television services in the basic package of all digital television service providers in Canada. Among those twelve applicants, was the National Broadcast Reading Service (the operators of VoicePrintVoicePrint
VoicePrint is a Canadian 24-hour English language non-profit audio broadcast television service. VoicePrint is an audio-only service that broadcasts readings of news articles and features from more than 600 of Canada’s top newspapers and magazines, as well as audio theatre and films. It is owned by...
, a radio reading service
Radio reading service
A radio reading service or reading service for the blind is a service of many universities, community groups and public radio stations, where a narrator reads books, newspapers and magazines aloud for the benefit of the blind and vision-impaired. It is most often carried on a subcarrier, with...
, which is also a service with mandatory carriage), who proposed a service known as The Accessible Channel, a 24-hour English language channel which would be devoted to providing programming of interest to those who are blind or visually impaired, in a format which would be accessible to those individualsby providing all of its
programming with described video. Unlike other broadcasters offering described video, TAC would use the described video feed as the primary audio track, allowing viewers who cannot properly use or access the second audio program
Second audio program
Second audio program , also known as secondary audio programming, is an auxiliary audio channel for analog television that can be broadcast or transmitted both over the air and by cable TV.-Usage:...
to still view programming with described video. Of the twelve applications received, four were ultimately approved by the CRTCThe Accessible Channel would be one of them.
The CRTC's standard conditions of license for digital specialty services at the time imposed a requirement that TAC air 90% of its programming with closed captioning
Closed captioning
Closed captioning is the process of displaying text on a television, video screen or other visual display to provide additional or interpretive information to individuals who wish to access it...
. Nearing the channel's launch, the NBRS announced that to further position the channel as an inclusive channel for those who are visually or hearing impaired, it would provide close captioning for all of its programming as well. The NBRS announced that December 3, 2008, would act as the channel's "soft launch". A gala was held with the objective to raise awareness of TACtv's launch in January 2009. December 3 was the date chosen to coincide with the United Nations´ International Day of Disabled Persons
International Day of Disabled Persons
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It has been celebrated with varying degrees of success around the planet. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support...
. The channel subsequently launched on January 29, 2009.
The National Broadcast Reading Service would re-brand itself to Accessible Media in 2010.
High definition
In February 2009, the CRTC approved a high definitionHigh-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
feed for The Accessible Channel.