What Shows Are Being Described? (Canada)

The following list of shows was supplied by AudioVision Canada and was updated in May 2009.  Updates from other providers of description are most welcome -- please send to the webmaster!  The descriptions are accessible in Ontario for all networks and several other areas of the country, depending on the network and delivery system.  On satellite, for example, the described shows air open on a separate channel, but can be accessed anywhere in the country.

CBC - Bo on the Go, The Mighty Jungle, Turbo Dogs, Animal Mechanicals, Lunar Jim, Super Why, Who Do You Think You Are?, Life and Times (Canada's Next Great PM & Test The Nation , Stars On Ice specials)

COMEDY NETWORK - The Jon Dore Television Show, Hotbox, Total Drama *Island (*Action - season 2) & French versions (L'Ile de Defils Extremes - Defils Extremes Action), Keys to the VIP, Stoked

YTV - That's So Wierd

APTN - Rabbit Fall, Wapos Bay, By The Rapids

BRAVO - Star Crossed, Star Portraits

THE ACCESSIBLE CHANNEL - everything !!!  (see www.theaccessiblechannel.com)

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Background (Canada)

In Canada, the CRTC (the equivalent of the USA's FCC) decided several years ago to make description a requirement for license renewals, but they were rather vague in their documentation.  Starting back in September 2001, every time a network appears before the CRTC to have its broadcasting license renewed, they are expected to commit to a certain number of hours of description per week.

Typically, the networks commit to two hours per week in years one and two of their licenses, then three hours per week in years three and four, and four per week up to year seven.  Except for two national networks, actual progress is difficult to track.

Canadians can also get most of the American networks as separate channels, and quite often Canadian networks broadcast US shows (such as The Simpsons, CSI, etc.).  When they do, and when those shows are described, the Canadian stations are expected to broadcast the shows with description as well.  This has occurred with varying degrees of success but is expected to improve over time.

Potentially, the Canadian visually impaired viewer has a relatively large amount of description to choose from, at least as compared to the USA.  In theory, a Canadian citizen should be able to get most of the USA described shows plus Canadian described shows.  In practice, availability is often limited at present to large markets such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as the networks update their SAP generator capacity to include the least populated markets.

Canadian broadcasters seem reluctant to advertise described shows, even to the point of not using a visible symbol at the beginning of the show to indicate it is audio described; so you pretty much need to "know" which shows are described (see next question).

See our AD Organizations page for a listing of companies that provide descriptive video in Canada.

(Thanks to John Hauber and Joe Clark for supplying Canadian background information.)