Accessible Media Inc.

AMI (Accessible Media Inc.) is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs, and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. The company operates three broadcast services: AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French. AMI's vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns, and values through accessible media, reflection, and portrayal.

Accessible Media Inc.
TypeNon-profit
IndustryMedia
Founded1989
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario,
Canada
ProductsBroadcasting, Post-Production
Websitewww.ami.ca

History

AMI was established in 1989 as the National Broadcast Reading Service (NBRS) on the Canadian Parliament's Standing Committee of the Status of Disabled Persons. The committee's report, "No News is Bad News", stated that vision- and print-restricted Canadians must have equal access to published news and information.

In 1990, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted NBRS a licence for VoicePrint— a radio reading service; the service launched on December 1 that year. In 1995, NBRS launched AudioVision Canada to supply described video services to various film and television projects. In July 2007, the CRTC granted NBRS's licence application for The Accessible Channel, a national specialty channel which would air all of its programming with described video and closed captioning.[1] The channel would launch in 2009.[2]

To reflect its expansion beyond VoicePrint with the launch of The Accessible Channel, the National Broadcast Reading Service was renamed Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) in 2010. On January 30, 2012, as part of an effort to unify AMI's services under one brand for easier cross-promotion, TAC was renamed AMI-tv. VoicePrint followed suit on March 5, 2012, becoming AMI-audio.[3] On June 21, 2012, Accessible Media launched the DV Guide—an online TV listings service that highlights programming across Canadian broadcasters which carry audio descriptions.[4] In 2013, AMI-tv and AMI-audio licences were renewed through 2018[5] and AMI was awarded a French television licence. AMI's French channel, AMI-télé, launched in December 2014. In 2018, AMI-tv, AMI-audio and AMI-télé licences were renewed through 2023.[6]

In February 2018, AMI launched apps for iOS and tvOS, providing yet another means of consuming AMI-tv original content. Some of the apps' features include accessibility enhancements such as bolded text and high contrast layout.[7]

Noted programming on AMI-tv includes the documentary series' Employable Me, Eyes for the Job, Mind Set Go and What Happened to Holly Bartlett, and the weekly magazine series AMI This Week.

Key programming on AMI-audio includes NOW with Dave Brown, Kelly and Company and The Pulse.

In October, 2020, AMI announced the launch of its first original podcasts.[8]

Services

AMI operates three main broadcasting services in television and radio. Its services must be carried on the basic tier of all digital television services in the country.

  • AMI-tv and AMI-télé: English- and French -language general entertainment specialty channels with open format described video and closed captioning for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing
  • AMI-audio: an audio-only television channel and online service offering both live original programming and readings from a selection of magazines and newspapers read by professional narrators

References
  1. "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-246". Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Accessible Channel Launches with "Open Format'; Broadcaster Magazine; 2008-12-01
  3. "Accessible Media Inc. rebrands world-leading broadcast reading service for Canadians with disabilities: VoicePrint now known as AMI-audio". Press release. AMI. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  4. AMI Launches TV Listing Service for the Blind Archived 2014-06-14 at the Wayback Machine, Broadcaster Magazine, June 21, 2012.
  5. Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (2013-08-08). "ARCHIVED – AMI-tv - Licence renewal and amendment". crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
  6. Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (2018-08-27). "AMI-audio, AMI-tv and AMI-télé – Licence renewals and renewal of mandatory distribution orders". crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
  7. "AMI launches fully accessible apps for the blind and partially sighted community". Accessible Media Inc. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  8. "AMI-audio announces the debut of original podcasts". Accessible Media Inc. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
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