NAD Advocacy Successfully Reinstates TV Guide Caption Icons

The National Association of the Deaf led a successful campaign to persuade TV Guide magazine to reinstate important identifying markers, also called caption icons, to help deaf and hard of hearing consumers recognize captioned television programs. TV Guide implemented these changes in response to the NAD letter and numerous complaints. The NAD posted the TV Guide email on the NAD website and distributed it via email encouraging members and non-members to send in their concerns.

In the letter to TV Guide, the NAD explained that, “The identifying markers are needed not only for deaf and hard of hearing individuals who depend on captions to enjoy television programming, but also foreign speakers and individuals with limited writing and reading skills who use captions to improve their literacy. The markers are also used by parents who select captioned shows to help their children develop their reading and writing skills.”

John Loughlin, President of the TV Guide Publishing Group, in response to the NAD letter, said that TV Guide “is committed to helping its readers get the most out of their television viewing. We appreciate your interest and advocacy and hope that you will continue to communicate your thoughts and observations.”

“This demonstrates that through active advocacy, and support of the NAD, the deaf and hard of hearing community’s concerns can prompt private companies to realize oversights that affect millions of people,” says Kelby Brick, Director of the Law and Advocacy Center, “the NAD is thrilled with the prompt response of TV Guide. Many of our community members look forward to enjoying the TV caption icons in TV Guide again.”

Beginning with the November 29 issue, TV Guide will restore the closed-caption symbols to the prime-time program grids, and with the December 27 issue to the daytime grids. If you would like more comprehensive information on closed-captioned programs, visit TV Guide Online at http://www.tvguide.com [2] and on the TV Guide Channel, where available.

The circumstances that led to the omission of the TV captioning icon is in Loughlin's letter [3] posted on the NAD website.

NAD President, Andy Lange, said, “Thanks to the quick action and consideration of TV Guide, I can now select programs to enjoy with my son. TV Guide has been a valuable captioning resource for millions of Americans, like me, who wish to watch television with our loved ones and friends, without concern that one of us may be left out.”