A clear message to ITV – bring back British Sign Language

By Ann Jones

Last month, ITV decided to cut its signed evening news bulletins in 5 UK regions including Wales’ Tonight programme. This has dealt a serious blow to all those who are fighting to improve communication services for deaf people in Wales

It is fair to say that the relationship between the media and the deaf community has never been a blissful one. Some broadcasters have made efforts to include British Sign Language (BSL) in popular programming and even some specialist shows such as BBC Two’s See Hear. It is for this reason that we must not allow a roll back to previous decades where genuine accessibility was completely absent.

As signed broadcasting generally remains a relatively low priority, the idea that deaf people are nocturnal is still seemingly present in some sections of the British media. The result is that within this innovative and fast changing sector, a significant section of British society is being left behind.

With the digital switchover just around the corner we are already being offered HD Emmerdale and Simpsons on a daily basis. However, amongst this milieu there’s a big gap leaving deaf people out in the cold.

The Statement of Opinion which I raised condemning ITV’s actions has 37 AMs as signatories from a possible 44 whilst the ipetition holds more than 450 signatures clearly showing how unfair this decision is.

It seems that ITV misunderstand the way deaf people engage with BSL altogether as they incorrectly see subtitles as an acceptable alternative. The fact that the Welsh Assembly Government officially recognises BSL as a language in its own right shows the unique and significant standing of BSL – it’s a language distinct from English just like French or German. Aside from this, we all know that following subtitles on TV is a difficult task compared with foreign films or a polished documentary piece on a far flung conflict. The words jerk and jolt across the screen and often fall helplessly behind the action and it’s just as difficult for many deaf people, who are proficient at BSL, to follow as it is for you and I. For obvious reasons, deaf children are not able to pick up reading as quickly as their hearing peers so those who use sign language are faced with another hurdle if ITV insists on using subtitles as a substitute for BSL.

As Chair of the All Party Group on Deaf Issues I work closely with deaf organisations on subjects varying from Education and Employment to Health and the Media which reinforces my belief that in order to attain true equality in public life we must proof all our services for disabled users.

ITV is an ambitious broadcaster that has for decades sat millions of families in front of flagship programmes from Coronation Street and Crossroads to the X Factor and the UEFA Champions League. And while last week’s news of jobs losses and cuts at ITV is of course saddening, I cannot accept it as an excuse to abandon the duty of social responsibility to deaf viewers.

Deaf BSL users should have the chance to access Welsh news in their first language. By cutting its BSL service, ITV Wales is stopping a significant number of people in Wales’s deaf community from keeping up-to-date with current affairs and what’s happening in their area.

This issue is of course not isolated to ITV and I think this is a good opportunity for us to test the equality of our public service broadcasters. In July of last year the Assembly’s Broadcasting Committee recommended that ‘Public Service Broadcasting in Wales needs to be carefully monitored in order to ensure that access for viewers is maintained to the highest standard and level.” Currently, the BBC broadcasts just one weekly signed bulletin thus falling some way short of a genuinely accessible news service.

Issues of capacity seem to be rather complex in TV’s digital age. It’s impossible – and probably undesirable – to keep up with the new channels constantly being launched at the moment. So why is there no new space for deaf viewers?

We now have E4 +1, Channel 4+1 and BBC iPlayer, all these outlets just in case you missed something. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem as though BSL is being used much on these broadcasts. These channels seem to offer ample opportunity for the inclusion of signing on prime time TV but it’s simply not happening. However, I don’t believe it’s not too late to capture the opportunity that the digital switchover will bring for vast improvements in signed coverage.

If major broadcasters such as the ones I’ve mentioned want to remain influential and respected they must carry a firm commitment to social responsibility – for all viewers. Deaf people are not a special interest group and we, as a campaign, are not asking for obscure programmes on quantum mechanics to go out at 9pm on a Friday, but what can and should be implemented is a change to the existing programming to let deaf people enjoy TV in their first language. You can’t relax in front of the box when you’re constantly behind the punch line or a dramatic twist whilst also deciphering spelling mistakes.

Whatever Ofcom regulations say, sticking to the letter of the law is not good enough, ITV should reverse its decision before it loses any more face with the public.

Ann Jones AM chairs the All Party Group on Deaf Issues and the Equality of Opportunity Committee.