October 2008

CLOSED-CAPTIONED PROGRAMMING

For deaf and hearing-impaired viewers, the CBS Television Network captions on average 95 hours a week of its regularly scheduled network programming.  Not only does captioning serve these viewers, but research suggests that it is a valuable tool for teaching children and adults to read and for teaching English as a second language. CBS has long been an industry leader and innovator in the field of captioning.

Closed-captioned CBS Network programming includes:

The entire CBS primetime lineup is captioned, including all regularly scheduled series, specials and mini-series. 

CBS captions 60 MINUTES, 48 HOURS MYSTERY, the CBS EVENING NEWS, the Weekend Editions of the CBS EVENING NEWS, THE EARLY SHOW, THE SATURDAY EARLY SHOW, CBS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING, CBS MORNING NEWS and FACE THE NATION, as well as CBS News Specials, CBS News Special Reports and breaking-news coverage.  In addition, by updating captioning to Central, Mountain and Pacific time-zone broadcasts on an as-needed basis, CBS News ensures that all its viewers have equal access as required by the FCC.

In addition to English-language closed-captioning, CBS also captions 60 MINUTES and CSI: Miami in Spanish.

One hundred percent of CBS Sports programming is captioned, including the entire NFL schedule and the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, from regional coverage to the national championship game, an industry first.

All children's programming on CBS is captioned, as are the four daytime dramas -- THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, GUIDING LIGHT and AS THE WORLD TURNS -- and THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN and THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON are also captioned, as are religious specials. 

FCC regulations effective Jan. 1, 1998, mandated that 100 percent of nonexempt programming must be closed-captioned by Jan. 1, 2006.  The CBS Television Network has been in full compliance with the 100 percent mandate since the mid 1990's, well ahead of the requirements of these regulations.

For more information on captioning, call the CBS Captioning Department at (212) 975-7917.