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AMI-tv
CountryCanada
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Ownership
OwnerAccessible Media Inc.

AMI-tv is a Canadian English language digital cable specialty channel owned by the non-profit organization Accessible Media. AMI-tv broadcasts a selection of general entertainment programming with accommodations for those who are visually or hearing impaired, consisting of described video on the primary audio track and closed captioning available across all of its programming. The channel also broadcasts original series relating to accessibility and disability-related topics.

AMI-tv is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as a must-carry service; it must be carried on the lowest level of service by all licensed digital cable, satellite television, and IPTV providers in Canada.

History

Licensing

On March 27, 2007, the CRTC held a public hearing to consider twelve applications from applicants who were requesting mandatory distribution for their television services in the basic package of all digital television service providers in Canada. Among those twelve applicants, was the National Broadcast Reading Service, a non-profit organization who operates the reading service VoicePrint, which is also a "must-carry" service. The NBRS proposed a service known as "The Accessible Channel", a 24-hour English-language channel which would be devoted to providing programming of interest to those who are blind or visually impaired, in a format which would be accessible to those individuals. This goal would be accomplished through the use of described video on the primary audio track, allowing viewers who cannot properly use the second audio program (SAP)—due to either a lack of knowledge, or their television service provider not being able to correctly deliver SAP feeds to viewers—to still listen to programming with described video.[1] The NBRS also planned to maintain a daily "Described Viewing Guide" in conjunction with the channel, which would highlight programming with described video across other Canadian broadcasters.[2]

On July 24, 2007, the CRTC approved the NBRS's application to operate The Accessible Channel; the commission recognized that "television is a key tool for social integration for all citizens, including persons with disabilities" and that the low amount of described content on television (along with the technical issues NBRS cited) made it difficult for the visually impaired to find accessible television programming.[2]

Launch

The channel's original logo, which depicted its initials "TAC" in a stylized form of braille. The logo was later modified to closer resemble actual braille lettering.

At a gala coinciding with the United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2008, the NBRS announced that The Accessible Channel would officially launch in January 2009. The organization also announced that TAC would carry closed captioning on all of its programming: while the CRTC's standard conditions of license for digital services at the time only mandated that 90% of programming be captioned, the NBRS felt that captioning TAC's entire lineup would be consistent with its goals for making the channel an "inclusive" service.[1] The channel subsequently launched on January 29, 2009 as The Accessible Channel, or TAC for short.[3]

To reflect its expansion beyond VoicePrint, the National Broadcast Reading Service was renamed Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) in 2010.[4] On January 30, 2012, as part of an effort to unify AMI's services under one brand, TAC was renamed AMI-tv.[4] VoicePrint followed suit on March 5, 2012, becoming AMI-audio.[5]

On December 4, 2012, AMI-tv launched a high definition feed on the MTS Ultimate TV service in Manitoba.[6]

In January 2013, when the CRTC opened a new round of applications for must-carry channels, AMI submitted an application for a French language sister channel of AMI-tv known as AMI-tv Français (which would be a must-carry channel in French-language markets). Hearings regarding these applications, including AMI-tv Français, were held in April 2013.[7]

Programming

AMI-tv carries a general entertainment lineup of programming including sitcoms, television dramas, films, talk shows, and documentaries. Although AMI-tv is primarily aimed at adults, a limited amount of programming broadcast during morning hours are aimed at children including such programs as Little Bear and Franklin. The majority of programming on AMI-tv are Canadian productions supplied in conjunction with other major Canadian broadcasters such as the CBC and CTV; a smaller portion of programming is also sourced from foreign broadcasters and studios, but in any case, no more than 33% of its programming can be supplied by a single broadcaster, and at least 50% of programming must by described by companies unaffiliated with AMI.[2] The network also airs four hours a week of programming in French—as with its English programming, it is also closed captioned and contains audio descriptions in French.[8]

AMI-tv also produces and airs original programming, primarily dealing with accessibility and disability-related topics. Of these included its 2011 documentary A Whole New Light, which focused on Canada's contributions to the research of vision loss. Notably, audio descriptions were also embedded directly into the film's content and dialogue, instead of being relegated to a post-production task.[9] It also produced an original documentary series to lead up to the 2012 Summer Paralympics, Milestones of Champions: The Journeys of Canada's Paralympians, focusing on the stories of notable athletes at the Paralympic Games.[10]

AMI-tv has also carried live coverage of special events with described video, such as the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in conjunction with CBC News; AMI-tv's audio descriptions were offered through SAP on CBC's own television outlets. AMI provided similar services for CBC during the 2011 federal election, the 2011 Gemini Awards, Canada Day festivities in Ottawa in 2012, and the 32nd Genie Awards.[11] [9] In conjunction with coverage of the games carried by CTV and Rogers properties, AMI-tv also offered coverage of the 2012 Summer Paralympics; including simulcasts of daily highlight shows with described video, and a daily program featuring interviews with athletes hosted by AMI reporters Carrie Anton (who was a member of Canada's gold medal winning goalball team at the 2000 Summer Paralympics) and Gary Steeves, both of whom are blind.[12][10]

In September 2012, AMI-tv partnered with Sportsnet to broadcast three Toronto Blue Jays baseball games with described video provided by Sportsnet 590 correspondent Sam Cosentino, which included additional commentary such as explanations of on-screen graphics. Blue Jays president Paul Beeston praised AMI's involvement, stating that "to our knowledge, we are the first sports organization to have our games provided through this revolutionary approach to accommodating the needs of the blind and low-vision community."[13] AMI-tv's Blue Jays coverage was expanded for the 2013 season, with Cosentino joined by veteran sportscaster Jim Van Horne.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Accessible Channel Launches with "Open Format'; Broadcaster Magazine; 2008-12-01
  2. ^ a b c "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-246". Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-821". CRTC. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b Accessible Media Inc. rebrands world-leading broadcast service for Canadians with disabilities: TACtv now known as AMI-tv AMI press release 2012-01-30
  5. ^ "Accessible Media Inc. rebrands world-leading broadcast reading service for Canadians with disabilities: VoicePrint now known as AMI-audio". Press release. AMI. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Changes to Ultimate TV". Manitoba Telecom Services. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-19". CRTC. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  8. ^ "About AMI-tv". AMI. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Canada pioneers audio description methods". Media Access Australia. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Media advisory - AMI reveals reporter lineup for Paralympic Games". Press release. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  11. ^ "CBC and AMI-tv Partner to Make Genie Awards Accessible to People with Vision Restrictions". Broadcaster Magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  12. ^ "How to Watch the London 2012 Paralympic Games". CTVOlympics.ca. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  13. ^ "Three Blue Jays games to feature described video". bluejays.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  14. ^ "AMI expands coverage of Blue Jays baseball for 2013 season". Press release. AMI. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
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