This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2011) |
Country | Canada |
---|---|
Broadcast area | National |
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
Ownership | |
Owner | Accessible Media Inc. |
Sister channels | AMI-tv |
History | |
Launched | December 1, 1990 |
Former names | VoicePrint (1990–2012) |
Links | |
Website | AMI-audio |
Availability | |
Streaming media | |
Streaming MP3 | High fidelity 256Kb audio stream (direct link); Web player |
AMI-audio is a Canadian 24-hour English language non-profit audio broadcast television service. AMI-audio offers a variety of content to Canadians who are blind, partially sighted or otherwise print restricted.[1]
AMI-audio produces two daily live programs. Each show features news of the day, technology insights, current events, lifestyle issues, health as well as information directly affecting the blind and partially sighted community. AMI-audio also records and curates a selection of feature articles from top publications read by a team of professional narrators.[2] It is owned by Accessible Media Inc. (formerly known as the National Broadcast Reading Service—the organization was renamed following the launch of its sister television channel).
AMI-audio is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and went on the air in 1990 as VoicePrint. The CRTC licensed AMI-audio as a "must-carry" service in 2001, meaning all digital cable and satellite providers must carry the service. AMI-audio is primarily accessed on the secondary audio program (SAP) of CBC News Network, while some providers carry the service on a separate channel through digital cable. The service is also available on the Internet, through ami.ca.
On March 5, 2012, VoicePrint was renamed AMI-audio. The re-branding was part of a new promotional effort by AMI to unify its services under a single brand for easier cross-promotion with AMI-tv and ami.ca.[3]