Access Rules

Presentation to EPRA

October, 2004

Overview

• Background (Legislation / current levels)

• BCI approach to the development of the Rules

• Rationale for this approach

• Process

• Outcomes

Legislative Background

Section 19(11) Broadcasting Act 2001

..shall make rules requiring each broadcaster to take specified steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment by-

(a) persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, and

(b) persons who are blind or partially sighted,

of programmes transmitted on ay broadcasting service provided by him or her.

Section 19(12) ‘may...require a broadcaster to ensure that a specified percentage of programmes transmitted on a broadcasting service..employs specified means’

Forms of Access Provision

Subtitling

Captioning

Sign Language

Audio description

Current Service levels

Subtitling

RTE 1 Net 2 TG4 TV3

Peak Time 82% 53% 50% 12%

Over 24 hours 42% 14% 11% 11%

Over 18 hours 56% 19% 15% 8.5%

Conventional subtitles (page 888) widely available

Cost depends on mix of programming

Irish Sign Language

Limited provision on RTE 1

Language particular to country

Specialist programmes/all programmes

‘Closed’ signing not possible on analogue system

‘Open’ signing is possible

Audio Description

There is no audio description provision

Needs digital distribution

Concerns about archive of material

BCI Approach

Influenced by:

• BCI regulatory principles

• Culture

• Precedent - Children’s Advertising Code

• Flaws in traditional approach

• Feedback from constituent groups

Approach to Development of Rules

Information gathering

• Research - ‘Accessing Television’

• Pre-consultation

• Initial submissions from stakeholder groups

• Developed process based on information

Process

Phase 1 Targeted Consultation Oct 2003 - Jan 2004

• Consultative Forum established

• 24 Members

• 4 meetings

• Independently chaired

• Members are representatives of the interested parties

• Agenda

Phase 2 Public Consultation on Draft Access Rules September - November 2004

Process Phase 1

Consultative Forum Members

Broadcasters: RTÉ, TV3, TG4

User Groups: Irish Deaf Society

National Association for Deaf People

Irish Hard of Hearing Association

National Council for the Blind in Ireland

Cable: Chorus, Setanta, ntl

Regulators: BCI, Comreg

Rationale

• Preferred Method

• Ownership

• Targeted

• Timeframe

Issues to consider

• Language

• How issue is framed

• Not a singular voice

• Representative nature of members

• Credibility and acceptance of Chairperson

• Transparency

• Assistive technologies

Outcomes

• Access Principles

• Influencing Factors

• Technical Issues

• Proposals on Access Targets

Access Principles

Agreement on:

• Access

• Excellence

• Incremental Progression

• Responsiveness

Influencing Factors

Agreement on:

1. Differentiation between broadcast services

*stage of development

*level of current provision

*nature of broadcaster, public/private

*technical/human resource cost

*technical capacity

*type of programme schedule

2. Service Provision

3. Funding

4. EU Developments

Technical Factors

Agreement on:

• Technical limitations

• Agreement significant in clarifying expectations

Chairperson’s Report

Recommended adoption of:

• Access Principles

• influencing factors

• Technical Report

• Also included proposed targets

Stakeholder submissionsKey points raised

• User Groups

• RTÉ

• TG4

• TV3

Phase 2 Public Consultation

• Consideration by BCI of Forum outcomes

• Drawing up of targets and timeframes

• Production of Access Consultation Document (in braille and on audio tape and signed video)

• 12 week timeframe

Proposed Targets

Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Yr 6 Yr 7 Yr 8 Yr 9 Yr 10

RTE 1

55% 62% 69% 75% 81% 86% 90% 93% 96% 100%

Network 2

24% 33% 42% 51% 60% 67% 73% 80% 85% 90%

TG4

24% 30% 36% 42% 50% 56% 62% 68% 74% 80%

TV3

12% 19% 26% 33% 40% 44% 48% 52% 56% 60%

Determining factors

National free to air service

Public Sector Broadcaster

Commercial broadcaster

Current levels/capacity

Stage of development

Mix of programming

Key service - news/youth/

Linguistic imperative

Summary of key questions • Should there be specific % targets?

• Should programme genres/time blocks be prioritised?

• Should children’s programmes be prioritised?

• Should captioning be allowed?

• What issues should be addressed in the guidelines?

• Do you agree with the use of an 18 or a 24 hour day as the basis for targets?

Summary of key questions • Views on the principle of setting different

targets for each broadcaster?

• Views on proposal to use a 10-year timeframe?

• Views on proposed targets?

• View on sign language and audio description for public service broadcaster only?

• Views on the proposed review period of 3 years?

Next steps

• Deadline 10th November 2004

• Summary of responses

• Consideration and decision December 2004