ABC 6 NEWS is committed to offer real-time captioning for all 6-7a, 5p, 5:30p, 6p, 6:30p, and 10p.m. newscasts.
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 VITAC. The program is funded by the Minnesota Department of Commerce-Telecommunications Access Minnesota in conjunction with the MN Department of Human Services and Deaf – 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 Brianna Cook, KAAL-TV, 1320 Salem Road SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55902. Messages can also be sent through our website. Head to kaaltv.com and choose Contact Us on the right side of the tool bar at the top of the page.
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.
Real-Time Closed Captioning Feedback:
In order to evaluate and improve the quality of our broadcasts, KAAL-TV ABC 6 News wants to hear your opinions about our real-time closed captioning of local newscasts. [download form]
| Closed Captioning Concerns |
Closed Captioning – Immediate Concerns
Phone: (507) 288-7555
Fax: (507) 285-0038
E-mail:engineering@kaaltv.com
Closed Captioning – Written Complaints
Javier Gil, Chief Engineer
KAAL-TV, LLC
1320 Salem Rd SW
Rochester, MN 55902
Phone: (507) 288-7555
Fax: (507) 285-0038
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.