Talk by Paul Edwards, Programme Manager – Paralympics 2012 Online, Channel 4, to eAccess 12 conference in London on 28 June 2012. www.headstar.com/eaccess12

1. C 4 A c c e s s ib ilit y & T h e
L o n d o n 2 0 12 P a r a l y m p i c
G a me s
P a ul E dw a rds –
C h a n n e l4
p e d w a r d s @ h a n n e l4 .
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c o .u k
@ a u le d w a r d s
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2. Channel 4’s commitment to
accessibility

3. Why accessibility is important to
Channel 4
• Access to our content for all as a core part of
Channel 4’s remit.
• We promote and respect diversity in all its
forms
• We will be the host broadcaster of the
London 2012 Paralympic Games

4. A different challenge
• Commitment to Ofcom access services
quota
• Paralympics have been a focus point
• Director of Disability
• Regular meetings with disability interest
groups
• Digital has become more converged with
TV

5. The digital challenges
• Channel 4 work with internal and external
development teams
• In past 18 months the Multiplatform team
have successfully delivered:
• 172 projects (prototypes & commissions)
• 100+ production companies
• £16M+
• Projects now involve TV, web, mobile and
new technologies

6. The digital challenges
• Business misconceptions
– Accessibility is for a minority of users
– Accessibility holds-back innovation
– Accessibility increases project budgets
• Don’t blame the developers…
– “It’s in Flash so it can’t be made accessible”
– “We’ve put alt tags on all our images”
– “We’d like to do more but don’t know how to
test”
– “I’ve never seen anyone use an assistive
device”

7. The process
• Accessibility credentials part of
commissioning process
• Consultancy and drop-in clinic
• Training for specific roles
• Every project independently reviewed

8. Channel 4 and the Paralympic
Games

9. The aims
• More coverage than ever before (over 400
hours)
• Create an amazing, compelling, engaging
viewer experience
• Raise profiles of athletes and talent to
household names
• Demystify the sports and classification

10. The Digital Results
• Website and mobile apps
• Live text commentary alongside live video
• Interactive games (Boccia, Wheelchair
rugby)
• Social media

11. Live video

12. Boccia game
http://paralympics.channel4.com/boccia

14. 62 Days to go