Hi,
I'm back to trying to find a means of watching live TV with audio description here in the UK. This is likely to get a bit ranty, so be warned.
Free to air Digital TV, through the arial, does have audio description but is only available on TV sets which have rather clunky interfaces and, when it comes to services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, very little consistency in screen reader compatibility. Also, if one wants to watch premium channels, offerings from Sky, you're plum out of luck using Now TV which doesn't have audio description on its live channels. Kinda accessible, limited channel choice, free.
There is Sky Stream now, which has a screen reader which is okay, and I know they are trying to improve it but are limited by the hardware. Again, there is variation in accessibility across the offered apps though you do get audio description but, compared with Now TV, £10 a month, it is £28 for a 18 month contract, which does give you basic Netflix with adds, but is only available on one TV unless you upgrade to whole home for another £12 a month, making all this very expensive just to get a handful of channels that sighted folks could get for £10 a month, cheaper during deals. Kina accessible, very expensive.
There is EE TV which, apparently, has audio description on all channels including now TV channels and free view channels, but this too is expensive and requires changing broadband provider into the bargain. This has the advantage of being available on Apple TV too, but you only get one apple TV box that has the full experience, standard apple boxes don't offer the live channels. So, accessible, though expensive and highly disruptive.
These, as I understand it, are really the only choices, none of which meet our needs. I'd be totally fine with paying for the sky package if it had a quality and complete screen reader interface, but it's janky and, as yet, there is no audio description on it's catchup content, though fingers crossed this changes fairly soon.
Its just such a fragmented world of streaming for us that we end up having to buy several devices and subscriptions just to access everything and, if we can't afford it, well, we're limited.
What are other's thoughts? Are there solutions I've missed?
Comments
Now TV update
Taken from their page about supporting people with disabilities:
Is Audio Description (AD) available on NOW?
We’re working on making AD available on selected shows and movies on the Cinema Membership and Entertainment Membership. You can watch with AD on selected live channels.
We're planning to increase the number of shows and movies with AD. We’ll let you know on this page when more details are available.
Me again! Think this is a fairly recent addition to the site, the 27th June. I did have a quick look at live channels but couldn't find anything audio described. The wording about the catch up content is, no doubt, intentionally ambiguous... 'We're working on...' which, I think, means it's coming at some point.
All in all though, it is a bit of an improvement, even if it's years later than it should have been.
Re: Now TV
Interesting but not very impressive that they have spent all this time and all we get is a weak promise of better things to come. Assuming HBO Max has AD when it launches in the UK and that the app is accessible then any vague interest in anything Sky has to offer will be gone. It does feel like Sky's day is done.
There are some sky originals…
There are some sky originals I'd like to watch, Mr Big, for example. There are also peacock originals like Day Of The Jackel which will remain on sky with no alternative for us.
I flip flop between being really annoyed and hopeful.
HBO Max will be great, such a huge back catalogue of amazing shows, and though the set is getting there, as in being able to get audio description on many platforms and for many shows, it still has gaps.
Sky Originals
The only thing I wanted to watch on Sky in recent memory that wasn't HBO was a Chris McCausland programme but I forget what it was now.
I think Sky got way too big for its boots so I would be happy to see that particular empire crumble. I was a subscriber for many, many years and they just bump the bill up and up and up and if you want a good deal you have to fight your way through the call centre and then threaten to cancel. I can't be doing with that. I used to love watching the football but it's not much good if you can't see anything.
I just find them an arrogant company who don't; seem to value their existing customers that much. Not that they are unique in that regard I suppose.
Anyway, having said all that and just to immediately contradict myself, if all Sky Originals content had AD on streaming I might be tempted to subscribe for a month or two but not long-term.
HBO Max can't come soon enough though - I'm really quite excited.