Consider the hard of hearing when converting to digital

The South West is well under way in switching over to digital television with the analogue TV signal already switched off in many areas. Accommodation providers may not be aware that upgrading TV interactive / distribution systems* to digital may result in the loss of subtitle and audio description on televisions.

As an accommodation provider, when you update your TV system to digital it makes good business sense to take into account the needs of deaf people and those who are hard of hearing.

Around one in seven of the UK population have some degree of hearing loss and these people often take into account the availability of subtitles when choosing accommodation.

Subtitles are also useful for foreign visitors who don't have English as their first language and for those that have young children staying with them who need to watch TV with the sound down.

Having subtitles on the televisions in your rooms can also help you to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and can even be a step towards becoming accredited by the National Accessible Scheme (NAS)

What can you do?

Ensure that the installer upgrading your TV distribution system is aware that you need to provide subtitles for your guests and ask them what options are available for your system.

For a list of installers in your area, visit www.cai.org.uk

For more information on ways in which you can make your business more accessible, click here.

*TV Interactive / Distribution Systems allow accommodation operators to take control of their television offerings for guests. For example, they can give guests access to "live" digital TV, the ability to watch films at a time of their choosing, review hotel facilities etc. TVs and certain TV interactive / distribution systems not converted to the digital signal will not work after the switchover.

Date added: Thursday 6th August 2009
Latest updated: Wednesday 28th July 2010