Channel 4 subtitles and other services ‘not likely to return until mid-November,’ BBC reports

The BBC has reported this morning that Channel 4 subtitles and sign language interpretation are not likely to return on TV until mid-November.

For weeks, deaf people have been missing their favourite programmes like Bake Off, Gogglebox, 24 Hours in A&E, and many more, following the incident at Red Bee Media’s London offices.

There have been over 500 complaints to Ofcom.

One of the main complaints deaf people have had is about the lack of communication from the broadcaster, and a lack of timescale for when the programmes will become accessible again.

The news that it will be mid-November will give some sense of certainty, but also will lead to dismay that there will be another four weeks without access.

The only positive news is that some programmes will be made accessible on catch-up service All4 (see below).

Caroline O’Neill from the group Deaf and Disabled People in TV, said:

We’re happy that C4 are being transparent and honest and finally offering a timeline for full access service restoration. This kind of communication is crucial, but more than anything we need reassurances that this will not happen again and we find the monopoly over these services extremely concerning. We hope lessons have been learned from this incident and ask that C4 continue to provide us with updates on accessible content.

The National Deaf Children’s Society has responded to Channel 4’s announcement that full access services might not return until mid-November.

Mike Hobday, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said:

“It is simply not good enough that Channel 4 has said they will not solve the subtitling issues until at least mid-November. This is almost two months. If there was no sound on TV, there would be a huge outcry.

“Channel 4 have been celebrated as champions for disability, but they are now failing deaf young people who simply want to watch TV with their friends and family. The delay in resolving this problem is completely unacceptable.

“Ofcom must now take strong regulatory action.”

Further details from the BBC report:

• Full access services won’t be back until the middle of November.
• Sign language and audio description services were lost during the incident and won’t be restored until they move to the new system Red Bee are building.
• The broadcaster will begin to offer subtitles for its biggest shows like The Great British Bake Off and Gogglebox on its online catch-up service All4 from this week.
• An Ofcom spokesperson told the BBC: “We expect Channel 4 to meet the timetable it has set out for restoring these vital services.”