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ABC 6 News Launches Real-Time Captioning

ABC 6 NEWS is excited to announce the launch of real-time captioning for all 5, 6 and 10 PM newscasts. 

News Director Mike Schram states, "We see real-time captioning as one more step forward in our commitment to serve all of our viewers.  It provides more complete information which results in a better way to protect viewers during severe weather, emergencies and breaking news situations."  The use of real-time captioning is the only way to ensure that complete and accurate information is transmitted to deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. 

Stenographic real-time captioning of the news adds an entirely new dimension to newscasts, as it is the only captioning method that makes the entire broadcast – including weather, late-breaking stories, live "on the scene" reports, emergency information, and unscripted comments and conversation between news anchors – accessible to people with hearing loss, and to those people with normal hearing who rely on captions in difficult listening environments.

Each real-time captioner is a graduate of an NCRA-accredited court reporter and/or real-time captioner training program, and uses a combination of specialized real-time captioning software and hardware.  It's common for an experienced captioner to write at speeds of 250-300 words per minute.  Real-time captioning is provided by Caption Associates, LLC.  The program is funded by the Minnesota Department of Commerce-Telecommunications Access Minnesota in conjunction with the MN Department of Human Services – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division.

ABC 6 NEWS invites viewer questions and comments about our real-time captioning services.  Letters may be sent to News Director Mike Schram, KAAL-TV, 1701 10th Place NE, Austin, Minnesota 55912.  Messages can also be sent through our website.  Go to kaaltv.com and choose Contact Us under the About Us headline on the left side tool bar.

Funding provided by the Minnesota Department of Commerce - Telecommunications Access of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Human Services Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division.

Closed Captioning - Immediate Concerns
Phone: (507) 437-6666
Fax: (507) 433-9560
E-mail:  engineering@kaaltv.com

Closed Captioning - Written Complaints
Wendell Nelson, Chief Engineer
KAAL-TV, LLC
1701 10th Place NE
Austin, MN 55912
Phone: (507) 437-6666
Fax: (507) 433-9560
E-mail:  engineering@kaaltv.com

ABC 6 NEWS (KAAL-TV, LLC), Austin/Rochester/Albert Lea/Mason City, is locally owned and operated by Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. Other HBI television stations in Minnesota include: KSTC.TV, KSAX-TV, KRWF-TV, WDIO-TV, WIRT-TV and KSTP-TV. Minneapolis/St. Paul HBI radio stations include: AM1500 KSTP, KS95-FM, FM107 WFMP, plus the Hubbard Radio Network.  HBI also owns two television stations in New York and one television station in New Mexico. Hubbard Media Group, a division of HBI, owns and operates ReelzChannel, the national cable and satellite network all about movies.