To Educate and Inform: A History of Television for Deaf Audiences on the BBC

Abstract

abstract:This article examines the BBC's long history of producing programming designed for and accessible to deaf audiences. Although efforts to speak with deaf and hard of hearing communities have been ongoing, the broadcaster's track record of producing inclusive, culturally accessible content has been inconsistent, sometimes creating innovative content such as Vision On (BBC1, 1964–1976) and See Hear (BBC1/BBC2, 1981–) and sometimes providing little or no content for deaf audiences. The BBC has often been thwarted by its own limitations as a public service broadcaster and a hearing-run organization, at times leaving it with only traces of creative minority media.