Subtitling on TV
RNID and subtitling - new communications legislation

I am well aware of the excellent work carried out by the RNID to encourage more tolerant social attitudes towards the UK's 8.7 million deaf and hard of hearing people.

Independent and industry research shows that there are one million people who use subtitles 'wherever possible' and another five million people who use them on a regular basis. However, as you are aware, the advance of digital technology has led to concerns that TV channels will not benefit deaf and hard of hearing people unless subtitling is better regulated. The BBC is now committed to doubling subtitling targets on its new digital channels. I am also aware of RNID work with all the major broadcasters to set voluntary targets for the volume and marketing of subtitles, particularly on cable and satellite channels. They have succeeded also in persuading the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 to promote subtitling through trailers.

The RNID have set the following targets to encourage equal access through subtitling to TV, video, DVD and cinema:

• digital cable and satellite channels to be given the same statutory subtitling targets as digital terrestrial in the forthcoming Broadcasting Bill by mid-2001;
• all channels should promote subtitles on average once a week;
• at least 75% of all new videos and DVDs should be subtitled;
• all major films should be shown in cinemas with subtitles on a regular basis.

Chris Smith MP, the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport announced in February that: 'The Government's assessment of the regulatory environment for broadcasting in the United Kingdom was set out in the joint DCMS/DTI Green Paper "Regulating Communications-approaching convergence in the information age" and, in the light of responses, our conclusions were published in June last year as "Regulating Communications: The Way Ahead". But it is now clear that a more fundamental reassessment is needed. I shall shortly be announcing how this is to be taken forward.'

It has since come to light that the way 'regulation of communications' is to be taken forward is by the Broadcasting White Paper (yet to be published) - which will propose changes to regulation of broadcasting and telecommunications as a basis for new legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

The Conservative Party will be watching this process carefully; however, with the Government's already overcrowded legislative programme it seems unlikely that new legislation will be passed in the near future.