Clear language on ARD, ZDF, and other channels—understanding television better

Have you ever noticed that some TV content is very difficult to understand due to music or background noise?

In recent years, television stations such as ARD, ZDF, and many others have therefore placed a focus on inclusion and accessibility. Since 2022, ARD's main channel, Das Erste, and some regional channels have offered a "clear language" option. This is an additional audio track alongside the original sound of the program, which has been technically adapted to improve the intelligibility of the language.

This "clear language" option is available in the HD versions of channels such as Das Erste HD, BR, hr, mdr, NDR, Radio Bremen, rbb, SR, SWR, WDR, tagesschau24, KiKA, One, and ARD alpha.

Speech intelligibility when watching television

Speech intelligibility in television is a key element that significantly influences the quality of the viewing experience. While impressive graphics and high-quality visual content have their value, it is the clear and understandable transmission of speech that conveys the emotional content and message of a program or film. But what exactly does speech intelligibility mean in the context of television?

Importance of speech intelligibility

Clarity of content:
In news programs, documentaries, or discussion panels, it is important that viewers understand the information being conveyed accurately.

Emotional connection:
In films and series, the right pitch and clarity are crucial for conveying the emotions of the characters.

Accessibility:
Clear and concise language enables people with hearing impairments or older viewers to follow the content more easily.

challenges

Several factors can impair speech intelligibility. These include:

Background noise:
Especially in busy environments, such as live broadcasts, ambient noise can drown out speech.

Background music:
While music creates atmosphere in film and television, if it is too dominant, it can drown out the dialogue.

Technical issues:
Poor microphone technology or audio quality can lead to unclear voice transmission.

One solution to this problem is the "Clear Language" option: an additional audio track that ensures optimized speech quality.

That can be "clear language."

Clear speech is more than just a soundtrack. It is a special audio track used in television programs to increase speech intelligibility. This is achieved by minimizing distracting noises and music and amplifying speech.

The optional "Clear Speech" audio track reduces background and ambient noise, enabling people with age-related or general hearing loss in particular to enjoy a better viewing experience. However, people who find background noise or background music too dominant can also switch to the "Clear Speech" audio track.

The technology behind "clear language": How is the comprehensible audio track created?

The "normal" television sound undergoes a sophisticated process to produce "clear speech." First, all elements of the sound—from background noise to music to speech—are analyzed in real time and separated from each other. Then the speech volume is increased, making the words stand out clearly and distinctly. Other noises are reduced so that viewers are not distracted. The result is pure, intelligible sound.

Instructions: How do I activate "plain language"?

Don't worry, technology should work for you, not against you. You can easily navigate to the "Clear Speech" option using your remote control. In your TV's audio menu, you will now usually find "Clear Speech" alongside the familiar options such as "Original Sound" or "Audio Description." Depending on the TV model, the name of this option may vary slightly, for example, "deu (qks)," "German+Icon ABC" (on LG), or "deu (undefined)" (on Samsung).

There is also a special shortcut for all HbbTV users. By simply pressing the red button on your remote control, you can navigate directly to "Klare Sprache" via the ARD start bar and activate it.

Availability and distribution: Where can you find "Clear Language"?

Many television stations have recognized how important it is to present their content in a way that is easy for all viewers to understand. That is why some stations have integrated "clear language" as a fixed component in their broadcasting standards. "Clear language" is mainly distributed via satellite HD and, to some extent, DVB-T2 HD.

But you can enjoy this improved sound not only on your TV, but also online. Some of the stations mentioned also offer "clear speech" in their web live streams. And for all streaming fans, there are several programs in the ARD media library that offer this special sound.

However, not every broadcaster or television provider has yet adopted the principle of "clear language."

This can be frustrating for viewers who have difficulty clearly understanding dialogue or news reports. Fortunately, there are practical solutions that ensure excellent speech intelligibility on virtually any channel and with any TV model.

Oskar TV hearing amplifier: the alternative to "clear speech"

If the built-in "Clear Speech" option is missing, theOSKAR TV hearing amplifierfromfaller audio is an excellent solution. The portable and wireless TV speaker is designed to improve speech intelligibility across all channels. It does not matter whether the selected channel supports the "Clear Speech" setting or not.

Thanks to its special dialogue optimization, users can adjust both the volume and clarity of speech according to their individual preferences and needs, significantly improving the TV viewing experience.