Channel 4 has released a further update regarding subtitles, which have been largely unavailable on all its general entertainment channels since the Red Bee incident on 25th September.
As a result of a collaboration with Red Bee Media, Arqiva, Freeview, ITV and the BBC, Channel 4 says it is now in position to restore subtitles for key programmes. It plans to increase subtitles coverage further “in the coming days”.
Subtitles will be available to viewers on all platforms, with the exception of Freesat. Channel 4 says it hopes to add subtitles to Freesat as quickly as possible.
Audio description and sign language will remain unavailable until Channel 4 moves into a new playout facility in mid-November.
The full Channel 4 statement:
Following intensive engineering work and collaboration with our partners, Channel 4 is now able to provide subtitles on our main channels for viewers on Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview as well as on All 4 and Channel4.com. Over the coming days, we will begin to increase the number of shows with subtitles. To start with, shows that will carry subtitles will include the Great British Bake Off, The Last Leg and Gogglebox as well as live television including Channel 4 News and this weekend, F1 racing.
Channel 4
We have done this by changing the way our channels are broadcast – linking up our emergency back-up to Arqiva’s equipment in Broadcast Centre.
Channel 4 has been able to restore subtitles for viewers with the collaboration and support of our partners, Red Bee Media, Arqiva, Freeview, ITV and the BBC, for which we are very grateful.
Additionally, Channel 4 is grateful for the ongoing advice and support of RNID in speaking to our deaf audience during this time.
Subtitles, unfortunately, remain unavailable for Freesat viewers at the moment because we distribute content to that platform in a different way that is not resolved by this change. However, we remain committed to restoring this service as quickly as possible.
Audio description and sign-language services will remain unavailable until we move to the new system that is being built and tested.
Channel 4 will continue to work on delivering programmes affected by the original incident (from Saturday 25 September 2021) with subtitles, audio description and sign language support as soon as possible on-demand on Channel4.com and All4.
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PICTURED: Channel 4 headquarters, Horseferry Road, London. COPYRIGHT: The TV Room.
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