'Sign Language Channel' - A 21st Century opportunity and challenge

The paper outline the possible routes for setting up and transmitting a Sign Language channel. The production of television programmes requires considerable resources. As such productions are expensive and take a good deal of time, it is important to utilise broadcasting technology to make it manageable and accessible to all Deaf people. This paper will look at pro and cons of transmitting programmes aimed at Deaf people in the United Kingdom. Currently we have about 45 hours a week of programmes that have sign language input on the terrestrial Digital TV network. A lot of them are also available through the Satellite network. As a great majority of the programmes are produced and transmitted by hearing people, the need for Deaf people’s input and choices are seriously limited. Hence the British Deaf Association has been actively investigating whether we should have a Sign Language Channel instead of having it distributed across the 15 plus channels through the terrestrial Digital network. In doing this, Deaf people will be able to become actively involved in producing and transmitting the programmes in sign language. The question is would a Sign Language channel through the Satellite network work? Or would it be better to harness it on the Internet? Would there be enough consumers to subscribe to the channel?