'I have to ask my girlfriend to narrate': is TV failing visually impaired people?
While television ratings have soared in lockdown, millions of people with sight problems struggle with inconsistent audio description and shows that only nod at inclusivityWith coronavirus making going to the cinema, a gig or the theatre a...
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While television ratings have soared in lockdown, millions of people with sight problems struggle with inconsistent audio description and shows that only nod at inclusivity
With coronavirus making going to the cinema, a gig or the theatre a distant memory, there is one area of culture that is more accessible than ever: television. Live viewing has soared by 17% since the lockdown began, with the BBC and Channel 4 reporting huge increases in ratings. In March, ITV recorded its highest ever numbers for an entertainment show, when 11 million tuned into Ant and Dec’s first Saturday Night Takeaway without a studio audience.
But while most people are tuning into more shows than ever, millions around the world are still struggling to access them – including those with visual impairments. This frustration is felt by many, not least blind viewers in Wales, who were reported in February to be feeling like “second-class citizens” over the lack of audio-described original programming in the country.
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