Talking Guide (Screen Reader)

The Talking Guide, also known as the Screen Reader, is a voice guidance feature available on EXP that will speak the text on your screen. This feature covers functions such as program selection, channels, menus, settings, search and much more making navigation of on-screen services and functions easier for customers with visual disabilities.

Note: After the Screen Reader is on, you will not be able to use Dolby Audio. If your audio is set to Dolby Audio, the system will automatically bar you from Dolby.


Accessing the Talking Guide from EXP

Using your EXP remote control

  • To turn on the Talking Guide, hold down the A button for a minimum of 2 seconds.
    • If you press A for less than 2 seconds, A performs its normal function.
    • If you press A for more than 2 seconds again, the Talking Guide turns off.
  • When Channel Up or Down is pressed, the channel and program information are audible.
  • When the INFO button is pressed, program information is audible.
  • To silence the Talking Guide temporarily, short-press A.
  • To disable the Talking Guide completely, long-press A.

From the user interface

The Screen Reader can be turned on/off only through the remote control. However, there is messaging in Settings > Help > Troubleshooting > Accessibility > Vision and Settings > User Preferences > Screen Reader (Talking Guide) that describes how to turn on/off the Screen Reader.




Accessing Closed Captioning from EXP

Using your EXP remote control
  • To turn on Closed Captioning, hold down the B button for a minimum of 2 seconds.
  • If you press B for less than 2 seconds, B performs its normal function (which is currently only for My Shows, Guide, and Search).
  • If you press B for more than 2 seconds again, Closed Captioning turns off.
From the user interface
  • Closed Captioning can be set up in Settings > User Preferences > Closed Captioning.

  • To set from the Info banner—Press the INFO button while you are watching a show. The Info banner pops up. Press DOWN to go to the CC tab, and press OK/SELECT to toggle between CC on/off.

There is help messaging available on how to access closed captioning under Settings > Help > Troubleshooting > Accessibility > Hearing.


Audio Description

The Audio Description feature (also referred to as Video Description, Described Video, or Visual Description) is the insertion of audio narrated descriptions of a TV program's key visual elements into natural pauses in the program's dialog, making video programming more accessible to viewers who are blind or visually impaired. Audio Description is available as a secondary audio service (sometimes referred to as a secondary audio program or SAP) for selected programs. Not all shows have Audio Description, nor is Audio Description included in programming information. The American Council of the Blind (ACB) website provides a list of shows and links to network websites that have program schedules and show descriptions. When Audio Description is turned on and a show flagged for Audio Description is played, programming automatically switches from the globally-selected language track (for example, English), to the Audio Description track. Your EXP set top box remains on the Audio Description track until you switch back.

Accessing Audio Description from EXP

Using your EXP remote control

To turn on the Audio Description, hold down the C button for a minimum of 2 seconds.

  • If you press C for less than 2 seconds, C performs its normal function (which is currently only for My Shows, Guide, and Search).
  • If you press C for more than 2 seconds again, the Audio Description track turns off. Note: Sometimes (very rarely) Audio Description can be broadcasted on a track other than Spanish. In this case, you must manually cycle through the tracks for Audio Description.

From the user interface
  • The Audio Description can be set up in Settings > Audio & Video Settings > Language & Audio Description > SAP (Audio description or Spanish).





Emergency Alert System (EAS)

In an emergency situation, an audible crawl is presented to the subscriber through the Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) audio track. SAP is an auxiliary audio channel for analog TV that can be broadcast or transmitted both over-the-air and by cable TV. The audio comes from the cable operator or local broadcaster (if watching OTA). NOAA or another government affiliate will locally provide the emergency text. The cable operator or local broadcaster sends this text as metadata to the box, which displays the message as a text crawl. (The cable operator or local broadcaster creates the text-to-speech on the SAP track.)

Accessing the EAS alert from EXP

Using your EXP remote control
  • When an emergency message crawl appears on the screen, a series of beeps or tones on the main audio program occur. The alerts visually-impaired subscribers to switch to the SAP audio track by pressing the C button for more than 2 seconds.
  • Once in the SAP audio track, the regular audio on the SAP track is muted, and the emergency crawl is presented as an audible crawl that the subscriber can hear, before returning to the normal SAP audio.

There is no change in user experience for “high level” emergency alerts. In this case, the EAS alert automatically surfaces on the screen and there is no need to press the C button. After the EAS alert, programming resumes automatically.



Didn't find what you're looking for?


  Call us at 1-877-277-5711 

Reach out to us on social: