Audio description will be added to drama, documentary and other content on ABC1 for 14 hours per week between 5pm and midnight
for 13 weeks starting 5 August.
ABC managing director, Mark Scott, said: "The ABC has worked collaboratively with the Government, service providers and other stakeholders to deliver this trial and looks forward to presenting the findings to the Minister. "
The government says it will "consider the implications of introducing [mandatory] minimum levels of audio description on broadcasters in light of the final report from the trial."
The trial is the latest government initiative to improve television access for people with hearing or vision impairment. The Government recently passed legislation that introduces new and boosts existing requirements for captioning on commercial, national and subscription television. The legislation also ensures better access to televised emergency warnings.
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Parliamentary secretary for disabilities and carers, senator Jan McLucas, said: "We are also delivering a range of community participation initiatives including improving access to cinemas for people who are deaf, blind, or visually or hearing impaired, and providing playback devices in public libraries to improve access to print material." Senator McLucas said.
DBCDE commissioned consultancy firm, Australian Digital Testing (ADT) to test the audio description capabilities of a range of digital televisions, personal video recorders, digital video recorders, and set-top boxes and produce accessible user guides.
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