One principle of public service broadcasting is that it should be available to all.
Subtitles, audio description and sign language interpretation are hugely important services.
Subtitles are, of course, easy to turn off and on. They aren’t just used by people with profound hearing difficulties. They are valued by some other viewers too. Perhaps a slight hearing difficulty makes it hard for them to distinguish some speech? Or maybe they just want to keep the sound low to avoid disturbing someone?
Audio description is a useful service for those with poor eyesight and the blind.
Both these services can, of course, simply be turned off and on. There is no downside or distraction for other viewers.
Traditionally sign language interpretation has been more problematic.
Around 150,000 people in the UK use British Sign Language. Many of its users have been deaf since birth. BSL is a language in its own right.
But sign language interpretation can be a distraction for the majority of viewers, even those who would also support the principle of making programmes available to BSL.
This is the reason BSL programmes are usually shown at off peak times or overnight to record.
But is there now a way for the BBC to provide more live BSL? The red button.
In recent weeks several programmes – notably Strictly – have gone out with BSL interpretation on the BBC’s Red Button service at the same time as the main broadcast on BBC One.
Several programmes on Christmas Day and Boxing Day are being interpreted in this way including Call the Midwife.
Surely this is a better option than the overnight Sign Zone?
This allows BSL users to watch programmes as they are shown along with their friends and family.
The red button option effectively means sign language interpretation becomes an optional feature like subtitles and AD.
BBC cuts and changing commissioning priorities mean there is now far less original red button video content.
At present the red button video stream is mostly being used for endless reruns of Fanny Cradock Cooks for Christmas from 1975.
Surely it would be sensible to turn this stream over so that it be primarily a BSL service?
Over time, the need for the overnight SIgn Zone could be reconsidered.
The BBC deserves credit for providing BSL on a wide range of programmes each week. It does not cynically repeat programmes made years ago to tick boxes.
Until now, Sign Zone and the iPlayer were clearly the best ways of delivering this service.
But I really think providing the option of BSL on the red button channel at the same time as the main transmission should be the way forward.
The joy of a channel like BBC One is its ability to bring people together. Those who use BSL should be able to feel welcome too and, via the red button, enjoy programmes at the same time as the rest of us.
Acknowledgements
FEATURE IMAGE:
PICTURED: signed version of Lifeline, presented by Gaby Roslin, signed by Clive Mason. COPYRIGHT: BBC.
Acknowledgements