The Broadcasting Services (Digital TV Standards) Regulations 2000 require that all free-to-air broadcasters must caption all prime time, all news and all current affairs programs. There have been some limited exceptions. However, the regulations came into full force on 1 January 2004, whereby all news and current affairs programs (both metropolitan and regional broadcasts) must be captioned in full.
An agreement negotiated by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) also requires that free-to-air broadcasters progressively increase the volume (amount) of captioning on their programs over a period of years. There is another HREOC agreement that requires regular screenings of captioned movies in cinemas.
In addition, negotiations with PAY TV broadcasters are expected to lead to captioning of some of their broadcasts in the future.
Whilst Australia has generally enjoyed high quality captions on TV broadcasts, since the advent of the captioning regulations there have been some incidents of poor quality captioning. There currently are no legislated standards for captioning quality. Poor quality captioning is not acceptable. Captions must be understandable and must communicate the soundtrack, otherwise there is not point in them being there.
There is a need for quality standards to assist industry and government. Those standards should be endorsed by the caption suppliers, broadcasters, manufacturers of captioned DVDs, videos and movies, relevant government authorities and other relevant bodies.
Seeing this grow is exhausting but I am grateful that so many people recognize why these standards are non negotiable. We are pushing through the exhaustion because accessibility is not a luxury that can be ignored any longer.
Reached 100 supporters
June 27, 2004
6 Comments
M
Mark Webster
22 years ago
Featured
Fix the lag. captions are always 5 seconds behind the screen and it ruins the whole show.
S
Sarah Morgan
22 years ago
Featured
The spelling mistakes are getting out of hand. half the time the captions dont even make sense its so frustrating when you just want to watch the news
D
David Lund
22 years ago
Featured
Sometimes the text is just gibberish. seriously hire someone who actually knows how to type properly
T
Tom Sandoval
22 years ago
Featured
About time. standards are needed everywhere now. garbage service is unacceptable given what we pay for tv.
L
Linda Yang
22 years ago
Featured
PLEASE FIX THIS. my dad misses so much info because the captions look like a toddler typed them.
J
Jenny Farah
22 years ago
Featured
Hard of hearing people deserve the same quality as everyone else. Stop cutting corners on the tech it is not that hard to get right.
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The Broadcasting Services (Digital TV Standards) Regulations 2000 require that all free-to-air broadcasters must caption all prime time, all news and all current affairs programs. There have been some limited exceptions. However, the regulations came into full force on 1 January 2004, whereby all news and current affairs programs (both metropolitan and regional broadcasts) must be captioned in full.
An agreement negotiated by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) also requires that free-to-air broadcasters progressively increase the volume (amount) of captioning on their programs over a period of years. There is another HREOC agreement that requires regular screenings of captioned movies in cinemas.
In addition, negotiations with PAY TV broadcasters are expected to lead to captioning of some of their broadcasts in the future.
Whilst Australia has generally enjoyed high quality captions on TV broadcasts, since the advent of the captioning regulations there have been some incidents of poor quality captioning. There currently are no legislated standards for captioning quality. Poor quality captioning is not acceptable. Captions must be understandable and must communicate the soundtrack, otherwise there is not point in them being there.
There is a need for quality standards to assist industry and government. Those standards should be endorsed by the caption suppliers, broadcasters, manufacturers of captioned DVDs, videos and movies, relevant government authorities and other relevant bodies.
Seeing this grow is exhausting but I am grateful that so many people recognize why these standards are non negotiable. We are pushing through the exhaustion because accessibility is not a luxury that can be ignored any longer.
Reached 100 supporters
June 27, 2004
6 Comments
M
Mark Webster
22 years ago
Featured
Fix the lag. captions are always 5 seconds behind the screen and it ruins the whole show.
S
Sarah Morgan
22 years ago
Featured
The spelling mistakes are getting out of hand. half the time the captions dont even make sense its so frustrating when you just want to watch the news
D
David Lund
22 years ago
Featured
Sometimes the text is just gibberish. seriously hire someone who actually knows how to type properly
T
Tom Sandoval
22 years ago
Featured
About time. standards are needed everywhere now. garbage service is unacceptable given what we pay for tv.
L
Linda Yang
22 years ago
Featured
PLEASE FIX THIS. my dad misses so much info because the captions look like a toddler typed them.
J
Jenny Farah
22 years ago
Featured
Hard of hearing people deserve the same quality as everyone else. Stop cutting corners on the tech it is not that hard to get right.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach
250 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
or sign with Email
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
Fix the lag. captions are always 5 seconds behind the screen and it ruins the whole show.