Symbolic Cooperation

Starting today, Swedish channels TV4 and SVT are launching common symbols for their services for captioning, sign-language interpretation, spoken text and audio description. The symbols will be used on the TV screen, in the time schedules and on the web.

The channels will also make it easier to choose Swedish subtitles via teletext. Today, different channels have different captioning on different teletext pages. After 2013, TV4 and SVT viewers will be able to see program texts on the teletext page 199, regardless of channel.

“When we started with TV4 sign-language service a year and a half ago, the goal was to increase access for seeing- and hearing-impaired viewers without requiring expense equipment or special broadcast times,” says Åsa Jamal, director of communications for the TV4 Group. “The fact that this work is now spreading to other channels is a further step in the right direction.”

TV4 has a wide selection of captioned and interpreted programming, including Idol and Sweden’s Master Chef, among many other shows. The teletext page TV4-tolken, was launched in winter 2012 with many of TV4’s own prime-time productions are available. All pre-recorded programming is available on teletext page 890, as well as live 7 and 10 p.m. news broadcasts Monday through Friday plus Idol live broadcasts. TV4 won the 2012 Young Hearing-Impaired Ögonsten (apple of our eye) award for its work with making programming more available for viewiers with impaired sight or hearing.