Media Advisory - Accessible Media Inc. rebrands world-leading broadcast service for Canadians with disabilities: TACtv now known as AMI-tv

TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) today announced that The Accessible Channel-TACtv would be rebranded as AMI-tv.

"This is the next stage in our brand evolution," stated David Errington, President and CEO of Accessible Media Inc.-AMI. "Since we launched a reading service over 20 years ago, our media portfolio has expanded to include the world's only digital TV service in which all programs carry open described video and closed captions, as well as our accessible website, AMI.ca," continued Errington.

In 2010 the non-profit AMI changed its name from the National Broadcast Reading Service to Accessible Media Inc., reflecting the addition of The Accessible Channel broadcast license to the VoicePrint reading service. Since then AMI has consolidated its corporate, TV and VoicePrint websites into one, AMI.ca .

"And with that," adds Errington, "came the realization that we also had to link all our services under the AMI banner to aid our marketing efforts and to make it easier for our present and potential new audiences to access us and recognize all our services."

The rebranding from TACtv to AMI-tv is effective January 30.

"Though this name change is just the latest stage, our overall rebranding initiative will definitely enable us to more efficiently and effectively build awareness and cross promote our services amongst the growing population of Canadians with disabilities, including our audiences of blind and partially sighted Canadians who benefit from having the media of everyday life made accessible through described video," explains Peter Burke, AMI VP, Marketing & Communications.

"As well, a unified AMI brand and website allows AMI to reinforce the leadership position the Canadian broadcasting system has taken with respect to media accessibility," added Errington.

About Accessible Media Inc. 
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) is a not-for-profit multimedia organization operating two broadcast services, AMI-tv (formerly The Accessible Channel-TACtv) and VoicePrint (soon to be known as AMI-audio), and a companion website, AMI online (www.ami.ca). AMI serves more than five million Canadians who are blind or with low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, learning disabled, mobility or print restricted, or learning English as a second language by making print, broadcast and online media accessible.

Georgina Blanas, Director, Government, Public and Affiliate Affairs 
800-567-6755 ext. 0981, georgina.blan[email protected]

Andrea Ramos, Public Relations Coordinator                               
800-567-6755 ext. 0977, andr[email protected]​