Audio Description for Television

This list is subject to change and is not believed to be complete, but here are the primary shows known being described as of January 2005 (with updates since then noted). In most cases, reruns of named shows are also described.

Background (USA)

In July of 2000, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), ordered that by April 2002 TV stations associated with the four largest TV networks in the 25 largest markets and the five largest cable networks must begin offering 50 hours of video description per quarter. This order was challenged by the Motion Picture Association and others at the last minute, but their appeal was overturned, to be considered at a later date; and stations began complying in April 2002.

On November 28, 2002, the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of the Motion Picture Association of America et al (which, sadly, includes the National Federation of the Blind) in their argument that the FCC did not have the authority to mandate video description: "we hereby grant the petition for review filed by MPAA, and reverse and vacate the Commission's Order insofar as it requires broadcasters to implement video description." Fortunately, most of the major networks have continued to provide some description, yet they are not expanding the number of programs. View the complete video description appeal ruling, or View a 2002 news bulletin regarding the appeal ruling prepared by a blindness coalition.

In mid-June, 2003, Senator John McCain introduced text in a bill (S1264) updating the FCC's authority to clearly state their ability to order video description. The bill passed in committee. You can help by contacting your Congressional Representative. Details are contained in ACB News Notes on Video Description.

In May 2004, Representative Ed Markey (from MA) introduced HR 4311, identical in the provisions of the Senate Bill S1264, Section 9. In introducing the bill, Markey said: "I believe Congress ought to give the Commission clear guidance that such rules should be reinstated in a way that no court could question the intent of Congress that the Commission should have such authority.... Broadcasters are free to air whatever content they wish over the course of a week. The video description rules simply require that a modest portion of such speech be made available to all listeners, including those who cannot see."

Update (April 2005): On April 26, 2005, Senator John McCain reintroduced the Senate version of the act (S900), called The Television Information Enhancement for the Visually Impaired Act. View the text of the Senate bill. The current co-sponsors are: Sen Tom Harkin (IA), Sen Gordon Smith (OR), Sen Daniel Inouye (HI), and Sen Ted Stevens (AK).

Update (January 2006): The Senate bill is now in the hands of the Commerce Committee, chaired by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), whose office can be reached at 202-224-3004. The bill must be passed by the end of the 109th Congress (approximately October 2006), or it will have to be introduced as a new bill again.

Update (November 2006): The House version of the bill (HR 5252) passed and was sent to the Senate in June, but the Senate, with time running out this month, has not acted and is not likely to act. Audio description is only a small portion of the bill under consideration, and other parts are considered more controversial, impeding its passage. If the bill fails to pass, the process will have to start all over again next year.

Attempts to make TV accessible to the blind have been a recent force of contention. Beginning last April, the major networks and most watched cable channels (USA, Lifetime, TNT, TBS, and Nickelodeon) had to comply with the FCC order to air 50 hours of audio described programming every three months. Descriptions of the action, in the pauses between dialogue, are available with stereo equipped TVs or VCRs, to serve blind or visually impaired viewers (access is limited to certain major markets).

But the networks challenged the mandate in court, and this November, they won. Nevertheless, they continue to offer the service as if the mandate were in effect and descriptions can be heard with such shows as JAG and The Simpsons. Fox is the only network that has pledged to continue indefinitely. If the others follow suit audio description may become as prevalent as closed captioning for the hearing impaired. Says Charles H. Crawford of the American Council of the Blind, "To be the mainstream you've got to have access to TV."

In late February, 2003, we reported that ABC and NBC have stated their intention to discontinue described TV on March 31st, and CBS was seeking funding to continue. Everyone has been asked to write to the networks protesting this decision.

On March 5th, 2003, a person who wrote CBS shared her response with us: "Thank you for writing to CBS. Please be assured that the CBS Television Network will maintain the current level of video description service to our viewers via the SAP channel."

On March 22, 2003, the American Council of the Blind released the text of the proposed Video Description Restoration Act (see link at top of page).

What Shows Are Being Described? (Canada)

Most of the shows listed below come from a list sent to us by G&H Productions in 2005. Shows marked with an * were added or verified by AudioVision in July 2006. Shows marked with ** were added or verified in 2007. Please send us any corrections.

The descriptions are accessible in Ontario for all networks and several other areas of the country, depending on the network and delivery system. On satellite, for example, the described shows air open on a separate channel, but can be accessed anywhere in the country.

On CH and Global TV:

Andromeda
Bob and Margaret
Doc
Inspector Gadget
Largo
Last Chance for Romance
Mutant X (seasons 2 and 3)
Prairie Berry Pie
Queen of Swords
Real Kids, Real Adventures
Second Chance, Making it Work
Stargate SG-1 **
The Office Temps
The Outer Limits
Zoe Busiek, Wild Card

On CTV:

21C (documentary)
Cold Squad
Corner Gas (reported 6/05)
Degrassi, the next generation
Instant Star
Jeff, Ltd. **
Just For Laughs, Gags
Sue Thomas, FBI
The Associates (series, cancelled, but might be reruns)
The Eleventh Hour
The Holmes Show
Several documentaries on an ad hoc basis

On CBC:

Chilly Beach **
Life and Times *
Little Mosque On the Prairie **
Poko **
The Doodlebops **
The Naughty Naughty Pets **
This is Wonderland

On Chum/Citytv:

Hey Joel (animated series on MuchMusic)
Look-A-Like
Missing
Murdoch Mysteries
Stargate Atlantis **
One movie per week (on an ad hoc basis)

On Space:

On SunTV:

On Teletoons:

On VisionTV:

Background (Canada)

In Canada, the CRTC (the equivalent of the USA's FCC) decided several years ago to make description a requirement for license renewals, but they were rather vague in their documentation. Starting back in September 2001, every time a network appears before the CRTC to have its broadcasting license renewed, they are expected to commit to a certain number of hours of description per week.

Typically, the networks commit to two hours per week in years one and two of their licenses, then three hours per week in years three and four, and four per week up to year seven. Except for two national networks, actual progress is difficult to track.

Canadians can also get most of the American networks as separate channels, and quite often Canadian networks broadcast US shows (such as JAG, The Simpsons, CSI, etc.). When they do, and when those shows are described, the Canadian stations are expected to broadcast the shows with description as well. This has occurred with varying degrees of success but is expected to improve over time.

Potentially, the Canadian visually impaired viewer has a relatively large amount of description to choose from, at least as compared to the USA. In theory, a Canadian citizen should be able to get most of the USA described shows plus Canadian described shows. In practice, availability is often limited at present to large markets such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as the networks update their SAP generator capacity to include the least populated markets.

Canadian broadcasters seem reluctant to advertise described shows, even to the point of not using a visible symbol at the beginning of the show to indicate it is audio described; so you pretty much need to "know" which shows are described (see next question).

See our AD Organizations page for a listing of companies that provide descriptive video in Canada.

(Thanks to John Hauber and Joe Clark for supplying Canadian background information.)

USA

Canada

United Kingdom

Europe

What Shows Are Being Described? (USA)