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Bell ExpressVu launches described video service - To Better Serve Blind and Vision Impaired Viewers
TORONTO, Dec. 13 /CNW/ - Bell ExpressVu, Canada's leader
in digital entertainment, announced today that it has created an enhanced
service offering for the blind and vision impaired. Bell ExpressVu's described
video service provides its vision-impaired customers with a channel that
provides narrated program descriptions of key visual elements such as
scene changes, action, character gestures and costumes. The overall goal
is to enrich the
television experience by improving the understanding of vision impaired
or blind viewers through narration.
The process involves incorporating regular video from a main channel and
a special audio feed from the broadcaster. Bell ExpressVu's described
video service includes an easy to find home located at Channel 50 which
provides a daily audio listing of the programs scheduled on the described
video channels.It includes information on the audio content, what will
be aired in described video format, the scheduled time of the show and
the channel information. For ease of use all of the described video channels
are grouped together on Bell ExpressVu's EPG (electronic programming guide)
when they are airing described video programs.
"This is not only a technological achievement for Bell ExpressVu
but a valuable development for an underserved viewership," said Terry
Snazel, Vice President of Technology at Bell ExpressVu. In 1991, Statistics
Canada reported that 635,000 Canadians had significant visual loss. Described
video service is offered free of charge to all Bell ExpressVu subscribers.
Currently up to six separate described programs can be broadcast simultaneously.
"Our next challenge is to increase our content in described video
format," says Mr. Snazel. "We've put the tools at our disposal
to good use to make us user-friendly for this community and as more described
video programming is made available by broadcasters we will add channels
to support the programming - that way we can offer even greater choice
to the community."
With over 300 digital video channels, Bell ExpressVu is Canada's leader
in digital home entertainment, providing consumers with the highest quality
and most comprehensive digital television service.
Bell ExpressVu offers the most diverse programming available to Canadians
- two to three times more than the average cable company.
Bell ExpressVu broadcasts Vu!, one of the largest and Canada's first pay-
per-view (PPV) service in Canada with more than 50 PPV services. Complementing
Vu! are NHL Centre Ice(R), and The Racing Network Canada and NASCAR IN
CAR(R). Vu! also offers English and French programming including children's,
foreign, movie and special events.
Launched in September 1997, Bell ExpressVu is a limited partnership, wholly
owned by BCE Inc., Canada's largest telecommunications company. With more
than 1.2 million subscribers, Bell ExpressVu is Canada's fourth largest
broadcast distributor. Bell ExpressVu's share of the digital home services
market is continually increasing and is currently at 42 per cent.
-30-
VoicePrint has invited a representative from Bell ExpressVu to our studios
for an interview.And we want to know, what you want to know.Do you have
any accessibility, technology or availability questions about Bell ExpressVu’s
described video service?
If so, contact us toll free at 1-800-567-6755 or by email at voiceprint@nbrscanada.com
