The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
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Video Description Supported in 2 tested DTV Converter Boxes (so far...!)
May 9, 2008
Subject: Video Description Supported in 2 tested DTV Converter Boxes (so far...!)
At midnight on February 17,
2009, all full-power television stations in the
Congress created the TV
Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog
TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows
A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program.
To learn how to get DTV converter boxes and coupons, necessary to continue receiving over-the-air broadcasting after February of 2009, please visit www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-388-2009 (That's "DTV-2009") or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
Video Description and Converter Boxes
WGBH's Media Access Group has tested two of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration/NTIA-certified coupon eligible converter boxes and has determined that you can indeed receive and hear video description from a broadcast digital TV signal that properly includes it.
This morning we tested two boxes:
- Insignia from Best Buy
- Digital Stream from Radio Shack
We tuned in two different PBS kids programs broadcast on WGBH's digital channel and heard the descriptions coming through.
Even better news is that both boxes have both CC and SAP (or audio) buttons on the remote controls that allow you to access the various caption signals and alternate audio channels without having to go through the set-up menus.
You will find discrepancies in the on-screen menus when you use the two different methods for controlling the alternate audio:
- both boxes display "English 1" and "English 2" in the on-screen menu when you use the SAP or Audio button on the remote control. Use English 2 for accessing the video description (or Spanish if you are looking for that).
- in their set-up menus, both boxes display "English/Spanish/French" as the options in the pick list in those menus.
And, of course, neither of the boxes have audible/talking menus for control of the set up and control of the boxes.
The broadcaster must be properly tagging and sending the alternate audio in order for the boxes to pick up those signals and present them to the viewer.
But, all in all, good news!
Mary Watkins
Director of Communications and Outreach
Media Access Group at WGBH
617 300-3700 v/fax
617 300-2489 TTY
WGBH Boston informs, inspires, and entertains millions through public broadcasting, the Web, educational multimedia, and access services for people with disabilities.
Tom Zampieri
Blinded Veterans Association
BVA's Legislative Alerts Group
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