Able’s captioning will bring all Kiwis to the finish line 19 Jul 2016
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Budget provides $321m for RS&T activities News
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
- 300 feet down: two bare feet and one breath of air Living
Media Release
July
2016
Able’s captioning service will bring all Kiwis to the finish line
For the first time ever, Able are offering captioning services for free-to-air coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Prime, making the games accessible for Kiwis who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Partnering with The National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD), who have provided funding for the project, Able will provide captioning of Prime’s coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympics, from August 6th – 22nd.
“We’re absolutely delighted that the NFD have provided us with the funding to establish live captioning for the Olympics,” says Wendy Youens, Chief Executive of Able. “The Olympic Games are the world’s biggest sporting event and are ingrained in our national identity, so we’re thrilled to be able to make them accessible to Deaf and hard-of-hearing New Zealanders.
New Zealand’s only captioning and audio description service, Able make TV content accessible for Deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind and vision impaired New Zealanders. Their services are available on content across TVNZ, MediaWorks and Prime, assisted by funding from NZ On Air.
In 2015, Able’s funding increased, making it possible for them to work with Prime to launch captioning for some programming, paving the way for captioning services for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games coverage. Their team of captioners will be working hard over the next month to learn athlete names and sporting jargon that are likely to emerge in the commentary, as well as liaising closely with SKY’s broadcast technical team to ensure smooth coverage.
Captions are written transcriptions of a programme, and will convey both the commentary and the sound effects of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Throughout the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Prime viewers will enjoy a mix of the best Olympic action, from 11pm each evening through to 3pm the following day. Closed captions will be available for the opening and closing ceremonies, for daily coverage between 6am – 3pm, and for the 6pm highlights, all clearly identified by the CC logo on screen.
Through Able’s services, when Kiwis compete and win, Deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers will be able to become part of the excitement and achievement, along with the stadium of cheering fans.
“Being able to follow what’s happening at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will give me a sense of belonging, as I’ll be able to fully understand and follow the events,” says Joyce Torres, who uses Able’s captioning service. Originally from the Philippines, Joyce says the Kiwi accent can make TV difficult to follow, but captioning allows her to understand much more.
“Having hearing loss, I hear the words on TV, but often don’t totally understand what is being said. Captions help me follow the program, and I don’t get left out,” she says. “Captions will give New Zealand’s hard-of-hearing community a chance to be part of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and I’m looking forward to watching.”
All Able’s services are free and available for anyone in New Zealand. To find out more, visit www.able.co.nz.
- Ends
-
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more