The authors introduce many issues raised by a new service known as Audio Description (AD) which provides a separate commentary channel carrying narrated descriptions of the visual elements of television scenes such as costumes, actions, locations, and facial expressions. These are delivered to the visually impaired viewers during pauses in the programme dialogue. In order to drive forward the development of audio descriptive services for television on a European scale, a consortium of broadcasters, manufacturers and organisations with interests in the blind and elderly, was formed and is known as AUDETEL (AUdio DEscription of TELevision). It is undertaking a wide and ambitious study of AD issues including: the requirements of the target audience, the logistics of AD production in the studio, the optimal coding of the describer's voice, the transmission of the service, and the requirements of the domestic receiver. Each of these topics is also addressed by: economics, system standardisation, and practical demonstrations of viability by both programme production and over-air trials with prototype receivers.
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