Mandated TV AD Changes July 1

A May 2018 FCC Order and Public Notice has changed the FCC mandate for which TV networks are required to provide audio description effective July 1.  The Order drops the Disney Channel and TNT and replaces them with HGTV and the Discovery Channel.  In addition, networks will now be required to provide a larger number of hours of described TV (87.5 per quarter), with limited "credit" for repeats.  (Posted May 29)

NC Museum of Art AD Podcasts for the
"You Are Here" Exhibit Available

The NC Museum of Art's exhibit "You Are Here: Light, Color, and Sound Experiences" (now through July 22) features immersive art installations by 15 contemporary artists, including large-scale light works, sound installations, video works, mixed-media room-size environments, and site-specific projects.  To make the experience accessible to visitors with visual impairment, they hired two audio describers from Raleigh's Arts Access to describe the exhibits.  Podcasts of these descriptions, averaging two minutes apiece, are available for all to enjoy.  Visit the You Are Here Podcasts or read the press release (PDF).  We hope other museums will follow the NCMA lead and hire local describers to create audio descriptions of their own exhibits! (Updated June 5)

Dance Without Sight

A recent NY Times article featured Mana Hashimoto, a blind professional dancer and choreographer, who supplements audio description of dance with a hands-on experience in her "Dance Without Sight" workshop.  As she says, "touch adds another layer to verbal descriptions."  Read How to Convey Dance to Those Without Sight? All Hands On! (Posted May 22)

The 2018 Audio Description Project Conference
Registration Now Open!

The agenda and registration for the 2018 ADP Conference in St Louis, MO, July 1-3, is now available, along with complete registration information.  As usual, we have some great sessions, including a broadcast media description update, National Parks Service update, Describer Certification discussion, and your opportunity to evaluate excerpts of audio described films.  Our luncheon speaker will be Marilee Talkington, a legally blind actress who starred in a recent episode of NCIS and will also have a role in the upcoming "In The Dark" from The CW.  (Updated May 15)

The 14th Audio Description Institute
Registration Now Open!

We're ready for you:  Registration is now open for the fourteenth Audio Description Institute.  It is being held in St Louis, MO, from July 4-6, right after the ADP Convention, which is being held in conjunction with the ACB Convention.  The need for audio describers is growing significantly:  get trained (or refreshed) in this class!  Read all about the 2018 AD Institute (PDF). 

If this timing or location doesn't fit your schedule, check out Audio Description Training Retreats, which is teaching a class in western North Carolina July 12-16.  (Posted May 8)

Audio Description App Studied by Field-Research Team at Muir Woods National Monument

Last December, we reported on a focus group evaluating a UniDescription App at Yosemite National Park.  Another group has just tested the App at Muir Woods.  Sixteen ACB members from California chapters evaluated and gave overall positive reviews to the App.  The project "aims to create digital audio spaces and more accessible places."  The UniD app is available for both iOS and Android smart phones and contains audio description of more than 50 National Park Service brochures so far.  (Posted May 15)

Movies For the Blind

Movies For the Blind (MFTB) is a weekly audio podcast of public-domain movies and TV shows with audio description added so anyone can listen to a movie like it's an audiobook or an audio drama.  It was started by Valerie Hunter of Canada in 2007.  You can subscribe via your favorite podcast app (like iTunes) or access via the MFTB Website.  Read Valerie's article about the MFTB service and how it was started.  (Posted May 1)

New Audio Described DVDs and Blu-ray Discs

On June 12 we added 5 new audio described DVDs:  Love, Simon; Loveless; Sherlock Gnomes; The Strangers: Prey at Night; Tomb Raider 2018.

Recent DVDs:   Love, Simon; Loveless; Sherlock Gnomes; The Strangers: Prey at Night; Tomb Raider 2018; A Wrinkle in Time; Death Wish; Every Day 2018; Gringo; The Hurricane Heist; Thoroughbreds; Annihilation; A Fantastic Woman; Early Man; Game Night; Red Sparrow; The 15:17 to Paris; Black Panther; Samson; Fifty Shades Freed; 12 Strong; Peter Rabbit; Winchester; Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool; Hostiles; Maze Runner: The Death Cure; Paddington 2; The Commuter; The Post; All the Money in the World; Molly's Game; Phantom Thread; Proud Mary; The Greatest Showman; 13 Reasons Why: Season One; Father Figures; Insidious: The Last Key; Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Pitch Perfect 3; Downsizing; Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle; more...   

See Also:

• All described DVDs released in the USA in 2018
• All described DVDs released in the USA in 2017
• Alphabetical list of all commercially described USA DVDs
• Children's Described USA DVDs (rated G or PG)

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New Audio Described USA TV Programs

The $100,000 Pyramid, Sundays at 9pm; and To Tell the Truth, Sundays at 10pm.

Big City Greens premieres the week of the 18th and shows at various times; Big Hero 6 The Series shows at various times.

Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back, premieres Wed June 13 at 9pm.

Swamp Mysteries with Troy Landry, Thursday at 9pm.

Shades of Blue, Final Season premiere (with AD) Sunday at 10pm.  

(Posted Jun 12)

Actiview Offers a Seventh Movie

Actiview, a free app which supplies audio description tracks for a movie playing in a theater or on any other device, has released a seventh movie track:  Solo: A Star Wars Story.  Previous tracks include Megan Levy, Wonderstruck, Breathe, Coco, The Man Who Invented Christmas, and Dealt.  (Updated Jun 5)

AD for the Royal Wedding

Aira provided audio description of the Royal Wedding on May 19.  Note, however, that the recording begins with 23 seconds of silence, so please be patient!  You may advance forwards or backwards through the description in 15-second increments by using the left or right arrow keys.  (Posted May 22)