I watch TV after midnight, and I hardly notice them signers anymore. But saying that, I do like to watch them on music channels, as they tend to dance to the music. It can be more entertaining than the actual video.
I agree generally with signing as it's done at present, however...
a) it should always be indicated clearly in the EPG if a particular broadcast will be signed.
b) the main picture (excluding signer) should be placed symmetrically, shrinking it as necessary (which is done anyway) and with the signer outside or at the very edge of the 4:3 safe zone. Then, people who find it distracting could zoom in to remove it or at least most of it.
These two things seem so obvious to me that their failure to do this alone makes it irritating (but not the signing itself). Maybe they are always clearly indicated in the EPG, in which case I withdraw point a).
Comments
More often, I've noticed programmes that claim in the EPG to be signed, but aren't. This is quite often the case on Pick TV, IIRC.
Charmed Series 8 has Audio Description, for example, but you wouldn't know it from the EPG.
As noted in other posts, ome deaf people can find it difficult to understand subtitles.
I feel bad every time I am annoyed by it.
BSL users - who pay the same amount for their TV License as those who can access subtitles and/or speech- have to chase the SL version every time.
LOL I agree!
I love watching 4Music in the early hours of morning, those Sign People are the coolest!
a) it should always be indicated clearly in the EPG if a particular broadcast will be signed.
b) the main picture (excluding signer) should be placed symmetrically, shrinking it as necessary (which is done anyway) and with the signer outside or at the very edge of the 4:3 safe zone. Then, people who find it distracting could zoom in to remove it or at least most of it.
These two things seem so obvious to me that their failure to do this alone makes it irritating (but not the signing itself). Maybe they are always clearly indicated in the EPG, in which case I withdraw point a).