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British Sky Broadcasting Action Plan for the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network
Introduction
BSkyB is proud to be associated with the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network (BCIDN) and hopes that this action plan will represent our desire to join forces with other broadcasters in meeting the needs of both broadcasting professionals and viewers with disabilities.
Definition of Disability
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) defines a disabled person as ‘ someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial or long term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out day to day activities’. This definition includes not just those with mobility or sensory impairments but also a wide range of other impairments including mental health problems such as depression or schizophrenia, learning difficulties including dyslexia, diabetes, heart conditions and severe facial disfigurement.
Our Action Plan
Sky is committed to the aims of the Broadcasters Disability Network;
- To increase the presence of disabled people on air and on screen
- To increase the number of disabled people in all areas of the workforce
- To increase access to services, on and off air
- To ensure access to its buildings
To increase the presence of disabled people on air and on screen
- Sky will ensure that all Producers are made aware of the details contained within 'Adjusting the Picture' [A BCIDN/ITC publication - A Producers Guide to Disability] and will work with the BCIDN and its associates to brief producers and those commissioning programmes. To this end, Sky will aim to hold 2 internal seminars for Producers/Editors in the next 12 months.
- Sky will promote the use of disabled actors, presenters, experts etc and will support the BCIDN in identifying effective methods of measuring on screen disabled presence.
- Sky's factual programmes will represent disabled people and disability issues in a supportive and responsible manner.
Sky has created a Corporate Responsibility Forum that will drive the direction of our community involvement and will examine diversity issues. Our focus is on young people and supporting them to achieve their goals. Initiatives include opportunities to experience the way programmes are made.
- Sky will share details of relevant activity to the BCIDN on a regular basis
To increase the number of disabled people in all areas of the workforce
Sky has taken significant steps over the last 12 months to promote equal opportunities across the business;
Recruitment
Over the last 12 months BSkyB has taken a number of measures to ensure fair and equitable recruitment and selection. We have created a shared recruitment service which works to meet the recruitment needs of all hiring managers, whilst providing a framework for selection and assessment. Members of this team provide coaching and guidance to managers on every aspect of recruitment, including how and where to advertise.
Training and Development
A new Recruitment and Selection workshop has been developed and is being rolled out this autumn. All recruiting managers will be required to attend. The workshop includes discussion around the issues of diversity (including disability) and fair & equitable selection processes as well as practical assessment training.
Work Experience
Over the last twelve months, Sky has offered three work experience placements to young people with disabilities. They have proved to be extremely successful for both the individual and his/her team.
Actions
- Sky will continue to gather equal opportunities information from new employees and will review this data twice yearly.
- Sky will continue to develop the internal resourcing function to support the business in fair and equitable recruitment practices. The Resourcing Team will provide coaching and guidance to managers and will ensure that advertising is not exclusive.
- Sky will roll out a comprehensive Recruitment and Selection Workshop to managers, including sections on diversity.
- Sky will carry out an audit of HR policies and practices to ensure that they are fully inclusive. Any non-confidential findings and recommendations will be shared with the BCIDN in the appropriate forum.
- Sky will offer work experience placements to young people with disabilities. Sky will offer at least one per quarter, in partnership with appropriate support organisations such as Workable and Prospects.
- Sky will ensure compliance to its policy to its equal opportunities by requiring all recruitment suppliers to Sky to demonstrate their commitment to equal opportunities by declaring their internal equal opportunities policies and by reporting on diversity within their candidate population on a regular basis.
To increase access to services, on and off air
Sky is focused on improving the access disabled viewers have to the Sky satellite platform and to Sky's channels and services. Sky is working proactively to make reasonable changes.
The Sky platform offers a range of services that benefit people with disabilities. These include;
Access to interactive services
The ability to obtain information and purchase goods and services without leaving the home offers opportunities to people who have difficulty accessing public buildings and shopping centres.
Special Needs Helpline for Customers
Helpline numbers are published in a range of customer communications and calls are answered by a dedicated customer service team. Customers can also call using BT Type Talk or use email.
Accessible Formats
For customers with sight problems, Sky also sends out, upon request, a range of information, such as letters, statements and subscription application forms in large print and Braille.
Action
- Sky will continue make regular appraisals of formats provided and the needs of, in particular, visually impaired customers and will introduce new formats when justified and reasonable.
Audio Channel Line Up
Sky digital channel 996 provides an audio loop of channel names, and their corresponding channel number, to assist visually impaired customers in finding the channels they want to watch.
Subtitling & Audio description
Sky has developed and implemented functionality on the digital satellite platform that allows users to chose subtitling and/or audio description. This in turn allows users to access such services on those channels and programmes that broadcasters have chosen to enhance.
Subtitling on Sky's linear channels
Subtitling of Sky's channels complies with or exceeds the current 23% DTT requirements. Sky 0ne currently averages 50% and Sky Premier 45%, all Sports channels also exceed the current requirement. Sky has voluntarily committed to simulcasting this subtitled programming on the digital satellite platform.
Action
- Sky has committed to subtitling Sky News . The percentage of hours subtitled will start at approx 8% early in 2002 increasing to 50% by the end of 2002 and to 80% by the end of 2003.
Sky is committed to increasing the level of subtitling on all its DTT channels at least in line with current requirements.
Audio-description on Sky's linear channels
The current requirement of 4% audio description is exceeded by all Sky's DTT channels. Sky One currently averages 6.5% and Sky Premier 5.5%.
- These audio described programmes are simulcast on the digital satellite platform.
Programme signing
The current DTT requirement for signing of 2% of programmes is being exceeded by all Sky DTT Channels. Sky One and Sky Premier currently averaging 3.5%. Sky is committed to maintaining its focus of driving improvements to the digital platform that will improve access and enjoyment for subscribers, where this is reasonable
Website
We will continuously appraise ways in which we can make reasonable changes to our websites in order that access to them can be increased among visually impaired people.
To ensure access to its buildings
Sky is committed to ensuring that its sites are accessible to all people with disabilities and will make reasonable adjustments to this end. Currently, all Sky studios and galleries are accessible to wheelchair users. Adjustments are routinely made in order that employees who become disabled can remain at work, such as specialist chairs and equipment.
Action
- Site audits will be carried out on a regular basis (there have been 3 so far in 2001) in conjunction with disability consultants and disabled individuals to ensure the widest range of needs is met and that necessary adjustments are made.
Our involvement with the BCIDN
We will proactively share information that is not commercially sensitive with all members of the BCIDN to enable cross industry benchmarking & measurement and the sharing of best practice.
Sky looks forward to working proactively as we have done in the past, to identify opportunities for improvement of our services and to act accordingly.
This action plan has been devised with the involvement of all areas of Sky.
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