Reminder: Deadline Approaching to Submit to Public Consultation on Proposed Changed to Broadcasting Access Rules
The deadline to submit feedback to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s (BAI) public consultation on proposed changes to rules governing the level of subtitling, sign language and audio-description that Irish television broadcasters must offer is 5pm next Wednesday, 23rd July 2014.
The proposals are aimed at making television more enjoyable and accessible for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, partially sighted or blind. The new rules will update the current Access Rules which have been in place since 2005, and were reviewed in 2012.
The consultation was launched in May. The BAI is continuing to seeking responses from the general public, representative groups and the broadcasters before next week’s deadline.
Speaking in relation to the proposed changes to the Access Rules, CEO of the BAI Michael O’Keefe said, “The BAI has undertaken significant research and has engaged in a comprehensive consultation process in the development of the current draft Rules. We believe that the revised Rules will offer greater access to better quality programmes for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, partially sighted or blind. However, these are simply proposals and we are keen to seek the views of all the interested parties before the Access Rules are finalised, so I would like to take this opportunity to call on anyone with an interest in this matter to submit their feedback to us before next week’s deadline.”
Under the changes proposed to the Rules, RTÉ 1 will be required to reach a subtitling target of 87-92% by 2018, as compared to 82-87% in 2014. In the case of TV 3, it will be required to reach a subtitling target of 51-55% compared to 43-47% in the current year.
Subtitling targets are also set for the first time for the three RTÉ television services established in 2011, namely RTÉjr, RTÉ Plus 1 and RTÉ News Now.
People interested in responding to the consultation can do so online via www.baifuture.ie, where the consultation document is available in signed video, sub-titled and audio formats. Submissions can also be made in writing to the BAI at 2-5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2. Alternatively, the BAI will accept submissions by text to 51000 (commencing the text with ‘BAI’) or by phone to a dedicated LoCall 1890 940 490. The deadline for receipt of submissions is 23rd July.
In order to further promote the consultation, the BAI has undertaken briefing meetings with stakeholders from user-groups and broadcasters. In addition, it undertook a mail-out to wider stakeholders and used social media, as well as traditional media, to promote the consultation around the proposed rules.
ENDS
Contact:
Emily Kelly,
DHR Communications,
Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-9759248.