Five launch 'audio description' on digital satellite

Five are to mark the International Day of Disabled Persons on December 3 2003 by becoming the first UK public service broadcaster to offer audio description services on digital satellite television.
The adoption by Five of BSkyB's audio description technology will enable blind and visually impaired people to enjoy a wider choice of accessible programmes. Developed and pioneered by BSkyB, the audio description functionality already provides digital satellite viewers in more than seven million homes with more than 3,000 hours of audio described programmes each year on BSkyB's own channels, which include Sky One, Sky Sports and Sky Movies.
Five is the first third-party broadcaster to take advantage of the technology, which enhances accessibility of television programmes by allowing blind and visually impaired viewers to hear a description of what the characters on screen are doing.
(GB)