This page, initiated by Arts Access in April 2002, is updated as new information becomes available.  Here is our best effort in gathering the latest status on video description in the Triangle area.  Anyone who can add to or correct this information is urged to contact the webmaster.

New June 30, 2008:  Read H.R.6320, a bill "To ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to emerging Internet Protocol-based communication and video programming technologies in the 21st Century."

June 19, 2008:  Read an article, ACCESS DENIED:  The Blind or Deaf Can Feel Left Behind As the Tools of Technology Advance

June 9, 2008:  Read the FCC Consumer Advisory on Video Descriptions and the Transition to Digital Television.

April 29, 2008:  To read an overview of how Video Description might be addressed when analog TV ends (for most stations) on February 17, 2009, please visit the AD International website's Video Description page.

May 9, 2008:  To view a video of the May 1st congressional hearing on ""Draft Legislation Enhancing Access to Broadband Technology and Services for Persons with Disabilities," visit the congressional website.  (Select the video, then fast-forward a couple of minutes to get by initial audio problems.  The testimony of Jesse Acosta at about 54 minutes in is particularly interesting to people who are blind.  You can read a transcript of Jesse Acosta's testimony separately.)

NOTE:  The following information was written some time ago and cannot be considered up-to-date.

Overview

In the Triangle area of NC, video description is available via the SAP audio channel on selected programs of the four major TV networks and PBS, plus six nonbroadcast networks (on Time Warner Cable), as shown in the table below.  Time Warner Cable in Raleigh has been carrying all of the stations since February 2003.  Note:  The following information may not be current.

Network Via Antenna Via Time Warner Cable-Raleigh Primary Shows Described
ABC Ch 11 Ch 9 Prime time weekend movies.
CBS Ch 5 Ch 3 CSI, NCIS, JAG reruns, some movies
NBC Ch 17 Ch 6 Endurance, Scout's Safari, Kenny the Shark, Tutenstein, Trading Places, Strange Days at Blake Holsey High, Saturday Movie of the Week, some mid-week movies
FOX Ch 50 Ch 13 The Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons, That 70s Show, Magic School Bus, some movies
PBS Ch 4 Ch 4 There are so many shows described on PBS, with more added all the time, that we choose not to attempt to list them all here!  See PBS Video Description Schedule.
LIF (Lifetime) n/a Ch 33 Movies.  See Lifetime Video Description Schedule.
NIK (Nickelodeon) n/a Ch 43 Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer, Jimmy Neutron, and Rugrats.
TBS n/a Ch 34 Some movies.
TCM (Turner Classic Movies) n/a Ch 67 Many movies. 
TNT n/a Ch 26 Law and Order, movies.
USA n/a Ch 25 Occasional movies.  See USA Network Schedule and look for the oddball "Stereo" symbol (not reliable though).

Notes:

  1. Cable channel numbers shown above may vary for communities other than Raleigh.
  2. In February 2003, Arts Access completed its work with Time Warner Cable to get all networks above working on SAP.  Thank you Time Warner!  On July 24, 2003, Time Warner, nominated by Arts Access, received a Triangle Access Award from Universal Disabilities Advocates for this work.
  3. Viewer input on channel status on DirecTV or Dish Network would be appreciated.  The only information we have is this page from Dish Network on Descriptive Video:  http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/desc_video/index.shtml.
  4. When there is no description being broadcast on the SAP channel, some stations (like PBS) broadcast the main channel signal on SAP; some stations (like ABC and Lifetime) broadcast a message about the use of the SAP channel; but most stations broadcast nothing.
  5. CBS has a known problem of cutting out the SAP signal if a weather alert appears at the bottom of the screen, and they also turn on the SAP signal sometimes during commercials of non-described shows.
  6. TCM is not a station required by the FCC order (nor is PBS), but Time Warner has agreed to support the SAP signal on this station at Art Access' request due to the large number of described movies in their inventory.

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Sources for Described TV Program Listings.

There are several sources of online listings of described TV shows that we know of.  As their formats differ, you should check to see which one appeals to you.  Some may be incomplete at times.  The Yahoo site and USA Network list all shows, not just video described ones, while the others are described shows only.

  1. Audio Description TV Show Schedules from TV-Now. 
  2. Yahoo TV Listings.  You will need to customize this listing (entering your zip code, for example); but once you do, you can bookmark the URL, and the daily listing of shows will include the designation "DVS" after each video described show.  You can use your browser's FIND command (Ctrl+F) to search for DVS, if you wish.  For Raleigh you can try these preprogrammed links:  Yahoo Time Warner Digital or Yahoo Time Warner Regular cable.  Note:  at this time, the online listings for competing service TV Guide do not contain indications of video described shows.
  3. The Washington Ear.  Basic listing of dates, times, show names, and networks (though network names don't always match local names).  However, this listing includes programs a month or more in advance.  Not all shows seem to be listed.
  4. Lifetime Network.  Video description schedule for Lifetime network only.
  5. PBS.  Video description schedule for PBS only.
  6. USA Network.  Complete schedule from the network, but you'll have to look for the oddball "Stereo" symbol in the listing to find described shows.

Arguably, the proper term should be "audio described TV programs"; but the FCC introduced the term "video description."  Programs which are video described (also called descriptive video) are sometimes (but not always) designated by showing a special symbol (or the words "Video Described") usually in the lower left corner of the screen as the program starts.  There is no fixed standard at present.  Programs video described by WGBH's Media Access Group are known as DVS (Descriptive Video Service) and use the symbol shown below on the left; some programs just use the letter D (center); while others may use a symbol more like the one on the right:

Left image for Video Description or Descriptive Narration, especially DVS programs by WGBH. This looks like the letter D with sound waves emanating to the right.

D

 Right image for Video Description. This looks like the letters A D on a blue background with sound waves emanating to the right.

Most printed and online listings of TV programs do not yet contain an indication of video described programs.  Where they do (for example, Yahoo's online TV listings), the notation "DVS" is likely to be used after the program description.

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How Do I Receive Video Description? (Note:  Subject to change February 17, 2009)

Video description is transmitted over the Second Audio Program (SAP) channel and can only be received by a TV, VCR, or special receiver with this capability.  Most units manufactured in the last ten years do have this capability, and SAP is generally activated via a TV or VCR remote control using the MENU button and options, though the preferred method would be a single button, usually labeled MTS (which stands for Multichannel Television Sound).  (When purchasing a new TV, be sure to look for a remote control with one-button access to the SAP channel!)

Most stations only transmit audio on the SAP channel when video description or Spanish language for a particular broadcast is available; otherwise the SAP audio is silent.  Some TVs display the letters SAP for a moment when you tune to a channel currently transmitting an SAP signal.  A cable company or satellite company may or may not be retransmitting a station's original SAP signal.  If you are receiving a Cable or Satellite signal, the mechanism for turning on the SAP signal is in your TV or VCR, not the cable or satellite box.

NOTE!  Digital and HDTV (High Definition Television) channels do not have SAP signals!  While the channels have the technical capability to transmit multiple audio signals, this capability is not standardized nor currently even accessible from today's televisions.  In other words, "SAP" doesn't work on digital channels, including HDTV channels.  You must tune to the non-digital channel for a network (e.g., cable channel 9 for CBS, not HDTV channel 255).

If your TV doesn't have SAP, your VCR might, and you could pick up the signal that way and simply use the VCR's signal on your TV.  In fact, if you set them to the same channel, you can flip back and forth between them to get to the SAP channel easier than using many remotes!  If you are in the market for a new TV, be sure to look for one with the simplest way of turning the SAP channel on and off, preferably via a single button.  You'll find this button on the remote, usually marked MTS.  See the next section for a list.

Although there are no guidelines established, each station must decide whether or not to send their regular audio over the SAP channel when there is no special programming available or reserve SAP solely for described or Spanish broadcasts.  There are pros and cons to each approach, and a trend may develop over time.  And, of course, there is a potential conflict of interest for use of the channel:  described video or Spanish language.  In the future, that conflict will go away with digital TV because it has many audio channels available.

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Background (Updates first, then History)

Incomplete:  Attempts to restore the act since the following entries have failed and will not be detailed here.  See references at the top of the page for current status.

Video Description Restoration Act Reintroduced.  On April 26, 2005, Senator John McCain reintroduced the Senate version of the act (S900), called The Television Information Enhancement for the Visually Impaired Act.  The bill is now in the hands of the Commerce Committee, chaired by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), whose office can be reached at 202-224-3004.  The bill must be passed by the end of the 109th Congress (approximately October 2006), or it will have to be introduced as a new bill again.  The current co-sponsors are:  Sen Tom Harkin (IA), Sen Gordon Smith (OR), Sen Daniel Inouye (HI), and Sen Ted Stevens (AK).  View the text of the Senate bill. 

On February 18, 2005, Representative Markey reintroduced the House version of the act, as described below.  Read Representative Markey's Comments on the Video Description Restoration Act.  The current cosponsors are:  Rep Lloyd Doggett (TX), Rep Gene Green (TX), Rep Chris Van Hollen (MD), and Rep Heather Wilson (NM).  View the text of the House bill.

House Version of Video Description Restoration Act of 2004 Introduced.  On May 7, 2004, Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced HR 4311, identical in the provisions of the Senate Bill S.1264, Section 9, which was introduced last June by Senator John McCain, to give the FCC authority to reinstate its video description rules, taken away by the DC Court of Appeals in November 2002.  In introducing the bill, Markey said:  "I believe Congress ought to give the Commission clear guidance that such rules should be reinstated in a way that no court could question the intent of Congress that the Commission should have such authority....  Broadcasters are free to air whatever content they wish over the course of a week. The video description rules simply require that a modest portion of such speech be made available to all listeners, including those who cannot see."

In mid-June 2003, Senator John McCain introduced Senate bill S1264, updating the FCC's responsibilities, specifically including text addressing video description.  The text would give the FCC authority to "reinstate its video description rules," thus nullifying the order of the DC Court of Appeals which repealed the FCC's order last fall.  For more information, see our ACB News Notes on Video Description. 

On March 22, 2003, the American Foundation for the Blind and its coalition partners released the text of the proposed Video Description Restoration Act.

On March 5, 2003, the Director of CBS Audience Services replied to a viewer inquiry with the following statement:  "Thank you for writing to CBS.  Please be assured that the CBS Television Network will maintain the current level of video description service to our viewers via the SAP channel."

In February 2003, the degree of commitment of future network use of video description is up in the air.  The urgency for users of described TV to write the networks has escalated.  You can view a list of network addresses on the AD International website.

On November 28, 2002, the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of the Motion Picture Association of America et al (which, sadly, includes the National Federation of the Blind) in their argument that the FCC did not have the authority to mandate video description:  "we hereby grant the petition for review filed by MPAA, and reverse and vacate the Commission's Order insofar as it requires broadcasters to implement video description."  What networks (other than FOX) will do regarding existing shows being video described is unknown.  View the complete video description appeal ruling, or View a news bulletin regarding the appeal ruling prepared by a blindness coalition. 

On December 28, 2002, the following news item appeared in TV Guide:

Vision Quest:  The battle over audio description for the blind (by Ellen Klugman)

Attempts to make TV accessible to the blind have been a recent force of contention.  Beginning last April, the major networks and most watched cable channels (USA, Lifetime, TNT, TBS, and Nickelodeon) had to comply with the FCC order to air 50 hours of audio described programming every three months.  Descriptions of the action, in the pauses between dialogue, are available with stereo equipped TVs or VCRs, to serve blind or visually impaired viewers (access is limited to certain major markets).

But the networks challenged the mandate in court, and this November, they won.  Nevertheless, they continue to offer the service as if the mandate were in effect and descriptions can be heard with such shows as JAG and The Simpsons.  Fox is the only network that has pledged to continue indefinitely.  If the others follow suit audio description may become as prevalent as closed captioning for the hearing impaired.  Says Charles H. Crawford of the American Council of the Blind, "To be the mainstream you've got to have access to TV."

History:  At the end of March 2002, the court denied the request of the Motion Picture Association et al to grant a stay of the FCC's July 2000 rule that TV stations associated with the four largest TV networks in the 25 largest markets must begin offering 50 hours of video description per quarter starting April 1st, 2002.  (The Triangle is the 29th largest market, but stations appear willing to comply anyway.)  FOX was the first network to announce their intention to comply, and CBS followed shortly.  (To the best of our knowledge, ABC and NBC never formally announced programming.  PBS has been describing for years and is not part of the ruling.)  The same rule applies to large cable and satellite providers for the top five national nonbroadcast networks they carry (Lifetime, Nickelodeon, TBS, TNT, and USA Network).  Like PBS, however, Turner Classic Movies has been carrying described programming for years, though it is not affected by the ruling.  (As indicated above, the FCC's ruling was overturned in November 2002, though most stations continue to offer some video described programming.)

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Additional Articles and Resources

Information on this web page has come from a variety of sources.  We would like to acknowledge the contributions made by members of AD International and contributors to their mailing list.

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