2016 RIO PARALYMPICS ON CHANNEL 4

FULLY ACCESSIBLE LIVE GAMES

A banner reading 'Red Bee Media: Access Services Getting Ready For Rio' over an image of two people fencing.

 

During the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Red Bee Media provided live captioning, live sign language translation, and audio description, making Channel 4 the first ever broadcaster in the world to deliver a completely accessible Paralympic Games to its viewers. Red Bee was the exclusive provider of Access Services for the 2016 Rio Paralympics on Channel 4.

For Red Bee this meant investing in new technology and training our people to acquire new skills and deliver live event services, with no room for error. We assembled and trained a team that was up to the challenge, and who throughout the event delivered an extraordinary groundbreaking performance.

The Challenge

Completely accessible live Paralympic games 

  • Make the Channel 4 broadcasts of the Paralympic Games completely accessible.
  • Deliver live captioning, live signing and live audio description throughout the entire event
  • Work with deaf translators instead of hearing interpreters.
  • Delivering flawless services in a live environment – no room for errors

The Solution

New technology training & preparation

  • Pulling in new technology and talent from across the globe.
  • Training, preparation, research, and rehearsals ahead of the games to ensure the best possible outcome.
  • Dedicated staff of expert signers, audio describers and deaf translators.

The Result

The first completely accessible broadcasts of the Paralympic games ever

  • Channel 4 was the first broadcaster in the world to deliver fully accessible broadcasts of the Paralympic Games
  • 933 hours and 35 minutes live captioning across Channel 4, More4 and 10 online streams.
  • 20 hours Audio Description and 20 hours British Sign Language on 4seven.