A few months ago, there was a meeting with Tony O’Brien from Sky Television. We were promised the outcome of that meeting, and in turn, I promised this information in a previous blog.
Earlier this week, the outcome of this meeting was finally shared with us from an unexpected source and we can now share this with you all.
Tony O’Brien’s response for captioning, is, and has always been cost related. However, he has undertaken more work on this issue. So far he has:
a). Contacted TVNZ and has received advice on the extent of captioning they provide. (TVNZ last year received $1.9m dollars to operate this service).
b). He is working with channel providers to find out how many received and subsequently rebroadcast by SKY in New Zealand, may already include captioning.
c). He has contacted the studios that supply the bulk of their movie product and have established that the majority of movies do not include captions. Third party organisations add captioning at a cost.
d). Captioning on SKY originated channels, of which we have fourteen (including Sky Sports Channels), would require significant funding to both set up and operate the service. Keep in mind that TVNZ received $1.9 million dollars to fund 183.9 hours per week.
So we are pleased to be able to report that Sky TV is working on this issue.
While these developments are fantastic, as we all would like to have greater captioning access in New Zealand, I’m doubtful it will happen until there is legislation in place making it happen. But if it happens without it being law, I’ll eat my hat!
Two other things that need to be noted…
Firstly, Sky recently added a new channel RT, which is a channel for the Russian audience. Once more, another minority was provided for, but not us, the New Zealand Deaf & Hearing Impaired. There are appoximately 10,000 people that speak Russian in New Zealand (according to the last census). However, there are approximately 250,000 Deaf and hearing impaired New Zealanders whose deafness is severe enough to need captioning on our Television. This disparity speaks volumes of how deafness is perceived in New Zealand.
Secondly, Telstraclear provides captions on three channels. They buy their programming from Sky. Sky buys their programming from Foxtel. How is Mr O’Brien missing how the captioning works in this scenario? Some time ago, TelstraClear was contacted about this issue – and they were totally unaware that captioning was provided on those channels! So, I believe that there is something that they are are not doing, which can be done quite simply, to enable NZ to have captioning on Sky TV.
Lastly, If you haven’t already, make sure you do the online survey and have your say about this issue.
Click here to do the survey
Hi Did you point out to the main from Sky about the Rusian channel vs 250,000 Deaf and Hearing impaired Kiwis?
I would be interested in his response
We had a similar situation here where Polish too priority ! If it is to be a numbers game then migrants are set to get all the access aren’t they ? The problem with quoting 250K deafies is you can’t prove it, and there is no unity of approach between deaf and ‘not so deaf’ ! we have a reputed 100K deaf here and near 9 MILLION others, they have never acted in unison. Can’t you get British TV programs in NZ ? via SKY ? they are all titled.
Yes – UKTV Via Sky – but sky not captioned. SKY will not caption anything.
Hi
My understanding is that sky content which originates off shore typically has already got captions on it. Therefore it is a policy decision to simply flick a switch so the captions can be seen. Sounds like you might be taken for a ride on this. So i recommend you ask them more about enabling existing subtitling rather than the expense of originating new ones.
Good luck. DM
Hi Danni,
That is my suspicion.
Do you know much about the technology that they use? If you do, I would love to hear more!
Thank you (c:
I believe most content-generator studios (i.e. for movies and tv shows) come with: audio, video AND captions.
It’s just a lazy part of Sky NZ not to provide them.
It’s hardly a licensing issue or anything. I’m very sure people would rage at Sky for providing video but not audio… for gods sake, I wish they’d wake the hell up and realise that an extra 250,000 subscribers would make them a bit of a tidy profit. (expenses in making this service available would be minimal).
I can barely use Freeview where I am too, it’s outrageously shit. The captions lag, or they’re “dumbed” down.
I find it much easier, to download something in better quality, and then search a website for 100% perfect subtitles. I’m literally holding my wallet open, shouting: “HERE’S MY MONEY. TAKE MY FUCKING MONEY” – because I’d gladly pay for the content I download… but there’s no legal alternative for me to enjoy anything!
If Sky buys from Foxtel are you aware that foxtel is subtitled?
I’m a nzer living in Australia and i have to say, without rubbing it in, that the captioning and tv content in australia is fantastic.
I am a new member and would like to say thankyou for taking on the fight, I am appalled at the apathy of the media people and the Deaf could well have a case for disciminataion, I am sure that under the Human Rights legislation we may have a case, however I yield to your superior knowledge on the matter.