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2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

17/10/2002

CBC Commits to 100% Closed Captioning of English Language Television and Newsworld

Ottawa – October 17, 2002 – The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Henry Vlug, and the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) today announced that they have reached an agreement regarding closed captioning for the Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing on CBC English Television and CBC Newsworld stations.

Henry Vlug, a lawyer and an advocate for deaf people who is himself deaf, filed a complaint with the CHRC in 1997 against the CBC's English-language television network and CBC Newsworld for failing to provide closed captioning of all of its programming. Following an investigation by the CHRC, the case was heard by a Tribunal appointed under the Canadian Human Rights Act in 2000, which decision was subsequently scheduled for judicial review by the Federal Court. In an effort to resolve the issue and reduce delay, the CHRC assisted the CBC and Mr. Vlug in discussions to reach today's out-of-court settlement.

Speaking on behalf of the public broadcaster, Executive Vice-President Harold Redekopp stressed that CBC Television has been and continues to be an industry leader in providing closed captioning and other services to the Deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing communities. "As Canada's own national public television broadcaster, CBC Television is delighted to have reached this settlement, and to continue forward on this important initiative. Today's settlement will further strengthen CBC's ability to make its high-impact, high-quality Canadian television programming available and accessible to the greatest number of Canadians from coast to coast to coast."

As part of the settlement, CBC Television is taking significant steps to accelerate its timetable for closed captioning. By November 1 this year, all programming on both CBC English Television and CBC Newsworld will be regularly captioned, including live breaking news, promos and commercials produced by the CBC. The broadcaster has committed substantial additional capital and operating resources, including new hardware and software and captioners on call 24 hours a day, in order to achieve these goals.

Henry Vlug is pleased with the outcome of his complaint, confirming that, "Today's settlement is an important milestone for the Deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing communities. Now would be a good time for the other broadcasters to begin providing closed captioning of all their programming, too."

Speaking for her fellow commissioners at the CHRC, Chief Commissioner Mary Gusella noted the significance of today's settlement. "In committing itself to achieving 100% closed captioning within such a short time-frame, we see the CBC as acknowledging that Canadians who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing have as much right to access television programming as their fellow Canadians."

She was also pleased that CBC Television will take additional steps to inform its advertising clients of the importance of captioning their commercials to reach this valued segment of the viewing audience.

For more information:

Catherine Barratt
Relations extérieures et avec les médias
(613) 943-9119

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Ruth-Ellen Soles
Head of Media Relations
(416) 205-6638

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