Media content delivery is evolving quickly – its rapid pace parallels the speed of changing audience demographics and consumption styles. Bringing these factors into alignment is a goal of the Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) – an international, organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. To help facilitate this alignment, Bridge Multimedia (an ATSC member) has dedicated a good deal of time and energy working with FCC members, policy makers, and industry experts. The culmination of these efforts was a presentation titled The Future of Accessible Broadcasting, delivered at the 12th annual M-Enabling Summit at Washington DC in October. This important conference focuses on building an inclusive digital world for individuals with disabilities. This year’s theme was “Transformations, Disruptions, and Opportunities for Digital Accessibility,” which lent itself perfectly to Bridge’s presentation.
The Future of Accessible Broadcasting featured a panel of industry specialists speaking about the future of broadcast TV, particularly no cost and accessible television. The extraordinary panel included Jonathan Thurston, CEO of Infinite Access, as accessible technology leader, and former Co-Director of Accessibility for Walmart. He delivered an overview on how individuals with and without disabilities consume television content. He was joined by Matt Kaplowitz, CEO of accessibility company Bridge Multimedia. Kaplowitz spoke about the continually changing TV viewing (and gaming) behaviors of children and young adults as well as the dramatic increase in accessibility options for people with disabilities. He also discussed the increased amount of programming on PBS KIDS, and elsewhere, offering American Sign Language, audio description and captioning.
Frances West, CEO of Frances West Company and former director of IBM’s Human Ability and Accessibility Center, discussed surprising statistics relating to the aging population regarding an increase in overall media consumption. Marcie Roth, Executive Director and CEO of the World Institute on Disability, spoke about the powerful options available, globally, for television as a conveyor of emergency information communications, particularly through the United Nations’ “Emergency Warnings for All” initiative.
Anne Schelle, Managing Director of Pearl TV, a business organization of broadcast television companies with a shared interest in exploring innovative enterprises, also spoke. Ms. Schelle talked about how the Advanced Television System Committee has the potential to redefine the television viewing experience and provide multiple options for people with disabilities. This reflected the presentation’s overall theme that new heights of broadcast inclusivity can be attained by leveraging current advancements to ensure that television becomes fully accessible to the needs of diverse audiences throughout the world.
The Future of Accessible Broadcasting was both well attended and well received by industry insiders. Bridge Multimedia thanks all our amazing panelists for their valuable time and expertise. We look forward to continuing our productive work with them regarding accessible television broadcasting.
Matt Kaplowitz & the Bridge Team
L to R: Anne Schelle, Managing Director, Pearl TV; Jonathan Thurston, CEO, Infinite Access; Marcie Roth, CEO, World Institute on Disability; Matt Kaplowitz, CEO, Bridge Multimedia; Frances West, CEO, Frances West Company