The Council on Access to Information for Print-Disabled Canadians

I. Described Video

Possible Purposes Include:

Access for viewers who are blind or have low vision.

Access for viewers unable to see video for any reason.

Enhanced messaging.

Audio for Internet distribution.

Described video, also known as audio description, has all relevant action scenes and on-screen text (such as credits) in a video, TV program, web-based multi-media or movie described and read by a narrator.

Not only does this provide access to viewers unable to see the video, it can be used to enhance or emphasize messages in educational or promotional videos for all audiences.

Canada's major TV networks are increasingly required to include described programming in their prime-time schedules.

Described video can be "open" or "closed". When "open," the descriptive audio can be heard by all viewers. When "closed," viewers must turn on the TV set Second Audio Program (S.A.P., also known as the second audio channel for stereo broadcasting) for access.

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