Freeview has introduced its Accessible TV Guide to supported Freeview Play devices.
Available on Channel 555, the Accessible TV Guide is designed to make it simpler for viewers with accessibility needs, such as visual impairments or hearing loss, to discover and find content more easily.
Its been described by the RNIB as “a truly innovative step forward in TV accessibility for blind and partially sighted people”.
When they select Channel 555 viewers are presenters with a number of options: Use Text to Speech for on screen navigation; Show only programmes with audio description; Show only programmes with subtitles?and Show only programmes with sign language.
Viewers can then be taken to a demo of how the guide works, or the guide itself, launching with a filtered version of the linear TV schedule showing the content coming up that fits the viewer’s own accessibility criteria.
The guide is available on Freeview Play devices including models from Panasonic, LG and Toshiba, viewers with supported devices may need to retune their TVs to start receiving the Accessible TV Guide.
