Question
When viewing BBC1 HD on Freesat, many programmes have a voice-over which I understand is for the partially sighted. Is there any way to switch this off?
Submitted by Austin Reynolds
Our Answer
What you’re referring to is called Audio Description, and as you say, is a service for the blind or partially-sighted. Audio Description provides a commentary of the on-screen action, for example “Chuck leaves the room following Sarah”.
The service is available on many TV programmes, and is provided by the broadcaster. It’s not offered on all channels, and it’s not available on all equipment.
Turning Audio Description off and on
By default, TV sets and set-top boxes have audio description turned off. If you have a receiver that supports Audio Description, there will be a way to enable this service from one of the on-screen menus.
Each TV set and set-top box is different, and so without knowing the make and model, we can’t give precise advice on how to turn it off for every single make and model of digital TV equipment, although we’ll try to help with some general guidance.
If you’re not sure how to turn Audio Description on or off, then the first place to try should be the TV manual. Alternatively, you can try to find the option from the on-screen menus. Try looking under “Language”, “Subtitles”, “Audio” or “Sound” in the Settings menu.
Here is some information on how to turn on or off Audio Description on some common equipment
Freesat Receivers: On some boxes, try Menu > Settings > Language. You may find the “Audio Description” option there, with an option to “Enable” or “Disable”
Sky+ HD Box: Press Services, scroll to “Options”. Select “Subtitles”. Here, you’ll find “Audio Description On/Off”. Change as appropriate, and press the Green button on the remote to save
Basic Sky box / Older Sky+ box: Press “Services”. Select “System Set Up”. Select “Language and Subtitles”. Adjust the “Narrative” options as required, then move to “Save New Settings” and press Select
Help us to update this section. If you know how to enable or disable the Audio Description commentary on a digital TV set-top box or TV set that we’ve not listed here, please add a comment below.
hi, I have a bush smart tv from argos and a goodmans 45watt sound bar , this audio for the blind I cant switch how do you switch off. signed desperate.
still cant switch it off, this audio for the blind.
Ive got a hitachi smart tv and i cant get rid of this voice over on my tv…im going nuts ive checked the audio description and its saying off but still not working please help
Just set up a Humax Digital Recorder with my Sony Bravia and have recorded a couple of programmes but now gave a voice over which us driving me crazy. Do you know if this is the recorder that will have to be adjusted or the TV.
Thanks……Liz
Just set up a Humax Digital Recorder with my Sony Bravia and have recorded a couple of programmes but now gave a voice over which us driving me crazy. Do you know if this is the recorder that will have to be adjusted or the TV.
Thanks……Liz
I have been working on this problem for weeks and have finally found the fix for my setup. I use an old Phillps TV with a magnavox digital converter box. I thought I have tried going through every menu to find out where the problem was, but after finding this site went back and found the solution. I had inadvertently turned on the Spanish and the Audio description commentary. Fix: There is a tiny button labeled Audio on the remote for the digital converter box. Press the button and scroll through the options. At “English 1/2” the audio description is turned off.
I Have a ZGemma box……getting the background commentary for partially sighted which is annoying for the fully sighted. My Samsung tv is all ok.
it must be settings on ZGemma, can anyone help ?
hi I also have a zgemma with same problem,, did you get it sorted?
Turn on / off audio description on bush Smart TV
Sky Remote control. 7th and April 2017
Services
Accessibility
Audio Description
On or off
Press green button ( save settings )
Done
Also
Simply press help on sky control
Audio discription also comes up.
Turn on or off
7th April 2017
Hi, we are in Spain so are watching Analogue TV, turned it on one night and the soaps had Audio Description on them, I have been all through the on screen Menu, and looked in the Manual, but can find nothing to help, our Telly is a F&H FH 2201 Model, can anyone help please It’s driving me mad.
Thanks
For LG tv
Step 1. CLICK Q.MENU on ur remort control
Step 2. CLICK 4th option ((M)) or audio option
Step 3. Change the option if want a commentry or not …
E X I T
Someone please help me. The audio commentary suddenly started on my Toshiba freeview box. I went to settings, then accessibility settings but there’s no option to switch them off! It just goes through a list of languages and volumes but no off button. Aaaaahhhh
7110- one for all remote Panasonic tv , how do you turn of AD?
my audio says it off so what can I do for the voice over on itv last night my tv is Samsung
I LOVE YOU MICHELLE
My friend has a technical flatscreen how can I turn audio description off
Ment to say technika
I have a IPTV/OTI 254 box and cannot for the life of me turn off the audio commentary, its driving me barmy, any help is appreciated.
Wartsila tv box. Any ideas how I can turn off partially sighted voice over on this please. Driving me nuts and I’m already out at sea
LG tvs- SETTINGS- Accessibilty- AUDIO GUIDANCE Problem solved
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driving me insane .this blind audio voice I will go mad if I have to listen to her much longer. help please . we have a polaroid smart 50 inch . I have been though all the bloody menues cant find nothing . any help would be most greatfull .
I have an L.G Tv.. I use it via a the remote controller for a digital recorder. On my remote there is a button which has AD on it, and when I press this option comes up for to disable or enable the audio voice commentary. And like many others, took me ages work this out as I coulnt find the manual book.
help
I was once in an hotel trying to switch Audio Description off; the guy from reception came up and he switched to ITV3 then pressed the blue button on the remote. I have no idea why this would work but it did. Maybe it was specific to their TV system but, if all else fails, give it a go. I know it sounds unlikely.
I have tried to turn off the AD on the tv……..I don’t even know how it got switched on….
I have gone into
Settings
Audio
Then i have Alternate Audio
Default audio language (Audio description)
Then a list of languages with Audio Description and a big tick next to it.
HOW DO I GET THIS OFF,,,,I have tried every button on the remote and nothing gets it off. Driving me potty….help….even rang virgin but as usual cannot get an engineer only an automated response. I dont know the password so I am stuck there too!!!!
This may help if you have an LG TV. I couldn’t turn the narration off in Sound, but found Disability Assistance in Settings – and it worked! I hope anyone with the same issue has the same luck!
I have a Magnavox model 26MD301B/F7. Sound narrative came on about 2 days ago unprompted. Closed captioning is programmed OFF. I have tried Language , sound, digital sound and cannot find where I can program this off. Can you help me please?
Tesco Digihome TV : Audio Description is found by selecting Menu, then System / Settings / Accessibility /OK then arrow right (or left) to set on or off (other options also on Accessibility screen).
Sky HD Box just goto accessibility and turn audio description off simple job done
TC-P42X3 Panasonic TV Can’t get the audio description to stop. Help
Ive just turned mine off, sky q remote bottom left button ( ? sign,) press that and its easy, hope this helps,
We have a Panasonic TX-L42B6B. On Channel 15 the Audio Description is on and we cannot switch it off. It drives me mad when watching a film.
We are on Virgin, along with over half the country we too have the Audio Description which is driving us nuts and cannot get rid of it. Have tried Home- Help and Settings- Settings- Audio-Alturnative Audio to no avail, it was uninvited and unwanted. Ideas????
if you find solution let me know. I have 2019 Sony Bravia tv connected to Virgin I have tried every solution going. Foot is going through the screen soon
Thanks John
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My tv, without a request, has an infuriating voice felling me what I can see! How do I get rid?
Disable audio commentary
Can’t get the person giving us a commentary through a program ours is HG model
i have just purchased a jvc android tv and i cannot turn off the voice
On SAB satellite receiver, System – Language Settings – EPG Language,. I set it to non English e.g. Ukraine which doesn’t have Audio description. That resolved issue
I appreciate the fact that partially sighted people may require supporting in this respect but this audio description is really annoying and intrusive. Sometimes it just doesn’t add any benefit to whether partially sighted or not. I just hope I can find a way of turning it off.
When watching tennis on sky I am getting the commentary printed across the screen! Most annoyingly
How do I remove this
cannot turn off voice over in My Panasonic TXP42X60B this happens only in Cornation Street and Eastenders
I have a Panasonic recorder and every time I record eastenders I get a voice in the background which I think is audio description and I cannot get rid ov it
So annoying. Cancelled all recent recordings and is now the first thing to check before watching any programme.
I am unable to disable the audio device. Please can you help? Thanks
The on off button does not work, It says its not available to turn offhe voice description.
This background description has only just started after many years without it. The TV has used Virgin Tivo for many years. Recorded programmes also have this background description. So far I haven’t found any way to disable it. Although it is useful to the visually disabled, it is annoying and unnecessary for us.