New audio service for TV announced

File Photo / Herald on Sunday

A new television service that helps vision impaired and blind people follow programmes has been announced by New Zealand On Air.

The broadcasting funding agency said today it was putting $500,000 into the service, called audio description, which provides an audio track that describes non-verbal on-screen action alongside the normal soundtrack.

NZ On Air said more than 75,000 people had limited sight that couldn't be corrected.

"Developments in new technology have finally made a service possible," said the agency's chief executive Jane Wrightson.

"Establishing this service is a major step forward for New Zealand."

Audio description will be available through TVNZ's digital channels next year and Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman said the disability sector had been asking for it for a long time.

"This service is as important to vision impaired people as captioning services have been to people with hearing impairment," he said.

The Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand welcomed the announcement.

"We've been waiting many years for audio description...it's fantastic that NZ On Air and TVNZ have been able to work together to develop it," said association president Clive Lansink.

- NZPA