Audio Description (AD) project serves to provide service for selected RTHK television programmes on its digital terrestrial television (DTT) channel, which would render them more accessible to the visually impaired people by providing an audio description of the visual image on the screen during the gaps between dialogues. [Click for more]
The mobile application RTHK Audio Description (聽•電視) produced by RTHK works with a designated series of audio description TV programmes broadcast on RTHK TV 31. The application targets both visually impaired persons and general audience. It can transmit the audio channel of the audio description TV programmes broadcasting on RTHK TV 31 to mobile devices in real time, such that both visually impaired persons and general audience can enjoy TV programmes together with family and friends at the same time and at the same time place using this application.
Accessibility Statement
We are committed to ensuring that this mobile app has adopted accessibility design to the maximum extent possible. However, this mobile application contains interactive elements / interface design that cannot incorporate all accessibility features. If you encounter any technical problems when using this application, please call the accessibility support organisation: Hong Kong Blind Union at 27095559 or Radio Television Hong Kong hotline at 35250890; or contact us by email at webmaster@rthk.hk.
Audio Description
When Audio Description TV programmes are broadcast, audience can choose to listen simultaneously to the "Audio Description" track or the "Audio Description + the Original Audio" track, and enjoy TV programmes freely together with family and friends.
Programme Schedule
Audience can check the broadcast time and the introduction of the audio description TV programmes that will be broadcast in the "Programme Schedule".
Reminder Function
Audience can set the time for a reminder on audio description TV programmes before the broadcast by using the "Reminder Function".
How to use
- Step 1: Audience should first switch to RTHK TV 31 on your integrated digital TV set or set-top box and turn to a higher volume;
- Step 2: Open this application around 5 minutes before the broadcast of audio description TV programmes, and keep the mobile device connected to the Internet, then move the mobile device close to or face to the TV and wait;
- Step 3: When the TV is broadcasting the audio description TV programmes, the application will actively try to achieve synchronisation with the TV’s audio output;
- Step 4: Audience can choose freely in the application:
- 1: "Audio Description" or
- 2: "Audio Description + the Original Audio" to listen to RTHK TV programmes.
In 2019, RTHK's TV Production, Engineering and various departments started the development of the RTHK Audio Description (聽•電視) mobile application. After several tests, working meetings, liaison with various visually impaired organisations for testing and improvement, the application is officially launched in 2021.
RTHK Audio Description (聽•電視) Mobile Application Tests
Members of The Hong Kong Society for the Blind and Hong Kong Blind Sports Federation were invited to try out the RTHK Audio Description (聽•電視) mobile application and to collect data at RTHK TV House Studio One in Oct 2020. Members of the above-mentioned organisations were again invited to help test the mobile application during the launch of the TV programme "Audio Description - Noon Theater" from November 2020 to March 2021.
