TVNZ Captioning Announces Milestone

TVNZ Captioning Announces Milestone

TVNZ Captioning has achieved its target of captioning over 200 hours of programming each week, an increase of over 300% since 2000.

TVNZ Head of Emerging Business, Jason Paris, says that this is a significant achievement for the captioning service.

"TVNZ Captioning provides a highly valued service and is an important part of TVNZ's role as New Zealand's public service broadcaster.

"Captioning over 200 hours of programming each week is a milestone testament to the hard work and dedication of the captioning team."

TVNZ Captioning is funded by NZ On Air and provides captioning across TV ONE, TV2, TVNZ 6 and TV3. It adheres to a number of mandates from NZ On Air, including minimum captioning requirements for prime time coverage, news bulletins and children's programming.

NZ On Air's Chief Executive, Jane Wrightson, says that the provision of captioning is vital for a significant number of New Zealanders.

"NZ On Air is pleased to fund such a valuable service and is delighted with the achievement of 200 hours of weekly captioned programmes" says Ms Wrightson.

"The dedication of the TVNZ Captioning staff, working to improve and extend captioning services, is admirable."

Increased funding for the service in recent years has enabled TVNZ Captioning to incrementally build on its captioning provision.

Captioning runs through the Teletext service, and is accessible on Teletext page 801. The captioning service is primarily used by deaf and hearing-impaired viewers, but is also useful for viewers with English as a second language.

ENDS

www.tvnz.co.nz/captioning.

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