Audio Description now available on popular digital TV networks
Feb 17th
Digital TV broadcasters all over the UK have come together to serve a common purpose – making television content more enjoyable medium of entertainment for its viewers. Especially, people who are suffering from sight-related problems and are thus unable to watch their favourite TV, can now do so, thanks to Audio Description (AD) service.
Around seventeen major digital operators including Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat have already launched AD campaign and the service is now available across the nation.
The Audio Description is a free service and its campaign will run on more than 60 channels by the end of March 2012.
AD makes use of the spaces and pauses available in the original sound track of TV content, to explain facial expressions and body language of the actors. Audio Description also describes the otherwise hard to capture on-screen action in an as easy and comprehensive way.
Thus, the Audio Description service enables people with sight problems to have the exact look and feel of the programme, documentary, movie, kids’ shows and so much more. Hence, the ones that they were likely to be missing out on will now be made accessible.
If at all you are currently subscribed to either Freesat, Virgin Media or Sky TV means you already have AD. The service can be turned on or off through your remote control with the use of on-screen messages.
In order to get Audio Description on Freeview, you will need to go for a digital TV. Customers can even connect their television to a set-top box, but then it should be able to render the AD service.
Just for the record, currently all popular TV shows like Friends, Coronation Street, Neighbours and EastEnders are through with Audio Description respectively.
For more shows, sitcoms, movies and travel shows with the service, just search for AD in the programme information.
Digital TV broadcasters all over the UK have come together to serve a common purpose – making television content more enjoyable medium of entertainment for its viewers. Especially, people who are suffering from sight-related problems and are thus unable to watch their favourite TV, can now do so, thanks to Audio Description (AD) service.
Around seventeen major digital operators including Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat have already launched AD campaign and the service is now available across the nation.
The Audio Description is a free service and its campaign will run on more than 60 channels by the end of March 2012.
AD makes use of the spaces and pauses available in the original sound track of TV content, to explain facial expressions and body language of the actors. Audio Description also describes the otherwise hard to capture on-screen action in an as easy and comprehensive way.
Thus, the Audio Description service enables people with sight problems to have the exact look and feel of the programme, documentary, movie, kids’ shows and so much more. Hence, the ones that they were likely to be missing out on will now be made accessible.
If at all you are currently subscribed to either Freesat, Virgin Media or Sky TV means you already have AD. The service can be turned on or off through your remote control with the use of on-screen messages.
In order to get Audio Description on Freeview, you will need to go for a digital TV. Customers can even connect their television to a set-top box, but then it should be able to render the AD service.
Just for the record, currently all popular TV shows like Friends, Coronation Street, Neighbours and EastEnders are through with Audio Description respectively.
For more shows, sitcoms, movies and travel shows with the service, just search for AD in the programme information.
Sky Ride to promote womens cycling project
Feb 16th
One of the most interesting facts is that almost one-third of women compared to men in the UK regularly ride cycles. However, almost one million women would love to ride cycle on a regular basis.
Sky Ride has now joined the bandwagons which encourage the women cyclists. It is supporting a new initiative by the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) and Breeze Network. Most of us are familiar with Breeze Network, which is a renowned British Cycling project. The main aim of the project is encouraging women to ride cycle for fun. The biggest project of its kind would be helping almost 80,000 women to ride cycle for leisure.
The Breeze network has joined hands with ACT for promoting independent, women-friendly bike shops. This would help women to locate women-friendly cycle retailers near them. They have recommended the traders to provide useful information and advice to the female riders. These stores would have an extensive range of women’s frame bicycles as well as necessary equipments for women who plan to ride cycle with their kids.
This step would be more profitable for the traders and they have a target market is of more than £14 million. Even you can participate in the initiative by Breeze Network, by riding with the organized Breeze Network cycle ride. Even you can become a Breeze champion.
No looking back for Sky Arts
Feb 16th
There is no looking back for Sky Arts. Starting from 21 February, Sky Arts 1 HD as well as Sky Arts 2 HD would be shifted to the upper position on the TV listings making it easier for you to locate them.
Following the change, Sky Arts 1 HD would be shifted to channel 129, which was earlier on channel 243. On the other hand Sky Arts 2 HD would be shifted to channel 130, which was earlier on channel 245.
This step is part of the increased commitment towards the cultural programming. The overall plan includes an investment of £600 million by 2014 in original British programming. The budget of Sky Arts has been increased by almost three times. Last year, more than 250 hours were dedicated to British-made programs, which were enjoyed by almost two million people every month.
This year has plenty of things in its platter. You can catch up with Ron Wood, whose intimate and exciting chat show would be tele casted on Friday nights exclusively on Sky Arts 1 HD. You would definitely fall in love with the BeTipul, which is a popular Hebrew-language show. It is based on HBO psychological hit. The program would be telecasted from 27 February. You would be glued to your television set as various great programs are making a comeback especially the popular ones which include The Book Show and South Bank Show.
There is no looking back for Sky Arts. Starting from 21 February, Sky Arts 1 HD as well as Sky Arts 2 HD would be shifted to the upper position on the TV listings making it easier for you to locate them.
Following the change, Sky Arts 1 HD would be shifted to channel 129, which was earlier on channel 243. On the other hand Sky Arts 2 HD would be shifted to channel 130, which was earlier on channel 245.
This step is part of the increased commitment towards the cultural programming. The overall plan includes an investment of £600 million by 2014 in original British programming. The budget of Sky Arts has been increased by almost three times. Last year, more than 250 hours were dedicated to British-made programs, which were enjoyed by almost two million people every month.
This year has plenty of things in its platter. You can catch up with Ron Wood, whose intimate and exciting chat show would be telecasted on Friday nights exclusively on Sky Arts 1 HD. You would definitely fall in love with the BeTipul, which is a popular Hebrew-language show. It is based on HBO psychological hit. The program would be telecasted from 27 February. You would be glued to your television set as various great programs are making a comeback especially the popular ones which include The Book Show and South Bank Show.
Openreach To Have New Charge Controls According To Ofcom
Feb 10th
This week saw the latest news from Ofcom focus on the wholesale charges for Openreach. Provisional controls on charges will be implemented for particular Openreach services, and the European Commission have been notified of these changes. Openreach provide all the important services that are needed to maintain the way we communicate with each other. They are part of BT Group, and are BT’s wholesale division who provide services – such as installing and repairing – to all UK communications providers.
The main reason that these controls are being put in place and regulated by Ofcom is due to their very significant domination of the market. Changes are dependant on the outcome of the European Commission’s new consultation process. Right now, Ofcom are preparing the draft of their decision, as they want the European Commission’s notification process to be clear – as it’s the first time this procedure will be taking place for a regulatory decision on a big telecoms company in the UK.
The yearly rental charges are predicted to run through until the end of March 2014. The control will be for unbundled property lines, shared unbundled lines, and wholesale line rental. For fully unbundled property lines, the price by Openreach will now be £87.41 which is down from £91.50. The shared unbundled price will be £11.92 instead of £14.70. Lastly, for wholesale line rental the price is reduced from £103.68 to £98.81. In March 2012, the final decision for these prices is expected to be made.
Entries Now Being Accepted For 2012 FreeSat Awards
Feb 7th
With the 2012 FreeSat Awards ceremony edging closer, entries are being called in for those channels or services who wish to be considered for one of the numerous awards. The FreeSat Awards celebrate all the very best in quality and choice regarding what they to offer they customers, so no one will want to walk away empty handed.
Some of the awards up for grabs are FreeSat Channel Of The Year, Best Niche TV Channel, Best Live TV Programme and Best New TV Series. Others include Breakout Channel Of The Year, Best Digital Radio Channel and Best News Channel. There is also an award for Best Digital Initiative too. FreeSat are asking for all entrants to be in by Friday 2nd March 2012, with the ceremony taking place on Wednesday 23rd May.
FreeSat launched as recently as May 2008, and is jointly owned by ITV and BBC. The aim of FreeSat is to bring digital TV to everyone across the UK without the need for contracts or subscriptions. Customers make a one-off payment for the service with no catch whatsoever. Those with the service even have the opportunity for HD TV too.
With the digital TV switchover taking place soon, a service like this is likely to become even more popular for those looking to avoid a subscription. A service with a one-off payment will appeal to a lot of customers, as they won’t have to be tied into a lengthy contract.
You get a lot of choice with the FreeSat service too, as there’s over 150 channels as standard. These channels include all the Freeview favourites, plus many many more. What’s more, customers can also pause and rewind Live TV, and have access to the on-demand services from both BBC and ITV, so there a heaps to offer in the way of freedom and control.
What’s New On Freeview This Week
Feb 7th
As we enter into chilly February, there’s lots to expect in the way of entertainment for those with Freeview. There’s plenty of comedy, drama and documentary to warm you up, so take a look at what’s to come this week.
On Monday there’s lots of factual programmes to sink your teeth into. Those with BBC One and BBC One HD can enjoy a special programme with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in mind. The three-part series, The Diamond Queen, will look back on Elizabeth II’s time on the throne and includes archive footage and interviews with members of the Royal Family. There’s also a Panorama special focusing on internet bullying at 8.30pm, also on BBC One and BBC One HD. This explores the sudden rise in bullying via social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, featuring an interview with X Factor star Cher Lloyd who was a victim of ‘internet trolling’ herself.
There’s more in the way of factual programmes on Tuesday and Wednesday too. On Tuesday, Gok Wan is helping teenagers with body issues on Channel 4 and 4HD, in his new documentary show Gok’s Teens: The Naked Truth. On the same channel that night you can also learn about the science of sight, in the documentary Katie: The Science Of Seeing Again. Katie Piper lost her eye sight back in 2008 after she was violently attacked by her ex-boyfriend with acid.
There’s also plenty in the way of comedy next week too. Dawn French is back to her funny ways with her new show on BBC2 and BBC2 HD on Wednesday, called Roger And Val Have Just Got In. There’s also the brand new series of Celebrity Juice starting on ITV2 at 10pm on Thursday, featuring lots of mischief and mayhem from Keith Lemon and the gang.
Win A Suzuki Swift Sport With Sky
Feb 7th
Sky Sports fans and Soccer AM viewers should take full advantage of the latest competition from the TV provider. There’s really no better way to warm up your winter than with a Suzuki Swift Sport, which is now up for grabs. There’s also some great runner-up prizes including an iPad 2 and Premier League tickets.
To get your hands on the prizes you just need to answer a question, and make your entry via the Sky Sports website. You’ll need to watch a clip featuring Soccer AM stars Tubes and Fenners, who both took a spin around the race track in the Suzuki Swift Sport. Once you’ve watched the clip, just tell Sky Sports who won the Bootcamp Challenge to be in with a chance of winning one of the prizes.
The Suzuki Swift Sports is a three-door, four-seater hatchback which can go from 0 to 60 is just 8.9 seconds. It also has a top speed of 124 mph. Not only is this car powerful, but it looks pretty good too. The sleek, smart design will make it a welcome addition to any driveway. One of the runner-up prizes is the latest tablet by Apple, the iPad 2. This sought-after device is the only way to view videos and browse the net, as it has a large bright screen. There is no need to explain sports fans how desirable the second runner-up prize – Premiership League tickets – will be, as this is one of the biggest events on the sporting calender this year.
Entries Now Being Accepted For 2012 FreeSat Awards
Feb 6th
With the 2012 FreeSat Awards ceremony edging closer, entries are being called in for those channels or services who wish to be considered for one of the numerous awards. The FreeSat Awards celebrate all the very best in quality and choice regarding what they to offer they customers, so no one will want to walk away empty handed.
Some of the awards up for grabs are FreeSat Channel Of The Year, Best Niche TV Channel, Best Live TV Programme and Best New TV Series. Others include Breakout Channel Of The Year, Best Digital Radio Channel and Best News Channel. There is also an award for Best Digital Initiative too. FreeSat are asking for all entrants to be in by Friday 2nd March 2012, with the ceremony taking place on Wednesday 23rd May.
FreeSat launched as recently as May 2008, and is jointly owned by ITV and BBC. The aim of FreeSat is to bring Digital TV to everyone across the UK without the need for contracts or subscriptions. Customers make a one-off payment for the service with no catch whatsoever. Those with the service even have the opportunity for HD TV too.
With the digital TV switchover taking place soon, a service like this is likely to become even more popular for those looking to avoid a subscription. A service with a one-off payment will appeal to a lot of customers, as they won’t have to be tied into a lengthy contract.
You get a lot of choice with the FreeSat service too, as there’s over 150 channels as standard. These channels include all the Freeview favourites, plus many many more. What’s more, customers can also pause and rewind Live TV, and have access to the on-demand services from both BBC and ITV, so there a heaps to offer in the way of freedom and control.
Hannington Transmitter Group Prepares For Digital TV Switchover
Feb 6th
The date has been in the digital TV diary for some time now, and it’s edging ever closer. Wednesday February 8th 2012 will see the start of the upcoming digital switchover. This has been promoted and advertised for some time now in order to prepare people for the loss of channels if they don’t switch. To make sure you don’t miss out on all your favourite channels, here’s what you need to know.
On February 8th BBC2 will be lost for those who still have analogue TV in your home. If you already have Digital TV, some new channels will become available. The time of day this happens will vary depending on which relay transmitter you’re watching. You’ll have to tune your TV again to receive these new channels if you have Top-Up TV, BT Vision or Freeview.
The second stage of the switchover will take place on February 22nd. This is when all analogue channels will be lost, and all new digital channels will become available. So if you haven’t switched by this date, you will lose every channel. Again, if you have already switched you’ll need to re-tune your TV to receive every new channel.
To find out what time of day your area will be affected, you can use the handy postcode checker on the Digital UK website. This can tell you exactly when the change is taking place on both days, so you can be fully prepared. In the mean time, if you haven’t switched already, make sure you do so to avoid losing all your favourite channels.
Sky Launching New Internet TV Service
Feb 3rd
Sky have recently announced an exciting step forward for their TV service. Always at the forefront of the latest technological innovation, they will soon be offering a brand new internet TV service. The aim of this new service will be to give customers even more freedom and flexibility over what they watch, when they watch, and how they watch it. With the massive increase in devices that have broadband capabilities, this seems like the ideal next step for the Sky TV service provider.
This new service is set to launch some time in the first half of 2012, so we could see this being launched as early as May this year. This new service will appeal greatly to those who don’t pay for a TV service. This is because you won’t need a TV subscription to enjoy the programmes from the online library. As long as your TV is hooked up to a broadband connection, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of pricing options. For example, you could pay monthly for unlimited access to movies, or alternatively you could pay per movie.
The other benefit to this new service will be how easy it is to access. You won’t be restricted to viewing at home, as you can watch on your laptop, tablet, and even on your smartphone. This means that you can log on from anywhere to enjoy all your favourite programmes. There will be far more choice too, will a vast library of shows to choose from. This move into multi-platform TV is in conjunction with the already expanding Sky Go service. Soon to be available on Android devices, this service brings subscribers all the latest entertainment, news, sports and movies straight from devices including iPads, iPhones, laptops, netbooks and tablets.