Spring Festival gala accessible to the hearing impaired

After trials in the past two years, China Network Television plans to make it a yearly practice to provide subtitles for people with hearing problems during the Spring Festival gala show, the most-watched show on the eve of the lunar new year in China, said Qiu Chun, director of the program.

According to Qiu, the subtitles are attached to the gala show's online version, which will be broadcast simultaneously with TV starting 8 pm on Feb 9.

"Because of poor hearing, they cannot appreciate the happiness others enjoy on lunar new year's eve," said Qiu. "This program is intended to give those who have hearing problems equal happiness, so that they can laugh together with their family members."

CNTV is also adding an online interaction session where Internet users can send new year wishes or donate to the handicapped.

Broadcasts accessible to the hearing impaired by CNTV started in 2011. Last year, hearing-impaired people from 15 countries and regions visited the website to watch the gala program on the lunar new year's eve, collecting donations worth 1.5 million yuan ($240,000) for hearing aids.