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Media ArticleComplaints about lack of television captioningJoint Media Release - 10 June 2008Deaf people are fed up with the lack of captioning on television programs and they are doing something about it. They are sending complaints to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC).In 2003 HREOC granted free to air broadcasters (Channels 7, 9, 10, ABC TV and SBS TV) an exemption from complaints for five years while they worked to increase the level of captioning to 70% of all programs between 6am and midnight. The broadcasters have achieved this and Deaf Australia commends them on this. However, another requirement of the exemption was that by the end of 2006 the broadcasters begin reviewing captioning and consulting with deafness representative organisations on plans for future improvements. Efforts by Deaf Australia and other organisations to negotiate further improvements in captioning have been unsuccessful and the exemption expired on 28 th May 2008. Instead the broadcasters have applied for an extension of their exemption. Deaf Australia has lodged an objection to this application, which can be viewed on the HREOC website at www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/exemptions/tvcap/subs08.htm While HREOC is considering the broadcasters’ application, broadcasters are now subject to complaints and Deaf people are making their views known. Deaf Australia knows of five complaints that have already been lodged with HREOC and expects more. "This is a clear wake up call for the broadcasters. Deaf people want equal access to television programs and they are fed up with waiting," Deaf Australia President Kyle Miers said. "Seventy percent of program captioned might sound like a lot but it is only programs between 6am and midnight . On a 24 hour basis, only 53% of programs are captioned. Television captioning has been around for 25 years. Why are they taking so long to reach 100%?" Miers said. Deaf Australia will also be sending a submission to the government’s investigation into media access for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing or vision impaired, calling for 100% captioning of television content.
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