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Access Services & Localisation

Access Services & Localisation

Our Access Services & Localisation team provide multiple accessibility services to bring content to life for our hard of hearing, blind and partially sighted customers. The team, in addition to Sky production, are assisting with the requirements for many external clients.

The team is led by Margaret Lazenby, Group Director of Access Services & Localisation. A leading figure in the accessibility industry, Margaret has a wealth of experience in access services, delivering to highly respected clients during her time at Deluxe.

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Subtitling

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Subtitling

Our team of 150 boast a formidable reputation for delivering excellence and are rightly proud to champion the quality of their work. We provide over 37,000 hours of live subtitles a year and over 10,000 hours of pre-recorded subtitles.

Apart from Sky work the team also deliver the requirements for large external clients including NBCU & A&E Networks. In addition, we hold an extensive archive covering a huge array of movies and entertainment content from the last 20 years. If content has been on Sky there will be a subtitle file, it does not have to be created again.

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Audio Description

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Audio Description

Sky also has an experienced Audio description team bringing content to life for our blind and partially sighted customers. Production takes place at Sky and has increased to over 3,000 assets a year for Sky and our customers.

The team have managed to maximise efficiencies to see Sky now exceeding Ofcom requirements by over 200%. Production utilises human voice as well as synthetic voice if preferred.

As with subtitles the team are providing services for external clients, if we can help you with broadcast content, or any other material you may require audio description for please contact us. As with subtitles why not check to see if your requirement already exists in our large archive of audio description files, saving you time and money.

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Languages

The team have capabilities and experience in delivering multiple languages including Italian, German and Spanish for the Sky group and external clients. If you require translation subtitles for any type of content, please speak with us to see if we can meet your needs.

You can also find out more about our Accessibility Services by going to www.skyaccessibility.sky

Our Experienced Leadership

Margaret Lazenby

Group Director of Access Services & Localisation

Margaret Lazenby: Group Director of Access Services & Localisation

I have worked in the Media industry for over 30 years. I originally started out at Sky and worked for 23 years, heading-up the Media Management and Access Services teams. In this role I worked on implementing tapeless, Ardome, BSS and merging teams.

I then moved to Deluxe and worked for 8 years as Director of Access Services & Localisation, heading-up the teams and processes across major many broadcasts, theatrical and online. I was then invited back to Sky to lead the in-housing of the Access Services departments, building teams to cover 36,000 hours of live subtitling, 8,000 hours of pre-recorded and 2,000 hours of Audio Description.

I have implemented ASR in live subtitling as a hybrid model, reducing prep time and in pre-recorded reducing the production time by half. We have also recently introduced AD with synthetic voice and live AD.

I work as a Group Lead across Italy and Germany, building and then expanded subtitling teams in both countries. I'm currently working on a project testing the current market for GenAI.

Laura Miller

Senior Manager of Access Services and Localisation

Laura Miller: Senior Manager of Access Services and Localisation

Over 20 years' experience in Media and Broadcast with expertise extending across the entire media content chain, from production studios to content handling, media management to access services & localisation.

I started my career in VT before moving to Media Management under Margaret Lazenby. After a few years I became senior manager of Content Services, looking after Media Management, QC, EPG, Archives and Stills. Keen to gain more experience, I then moved to Sky Studios where I was managing the Studio Graphics, Vision Mixing and Autocue teams through transformation.

I left Sky in 2017 and took up the opportunity to work with Mags again, this time at Deluxe managing the live subtitling team. The move to Deluxe meant I had gained experience of both working from a Broadcaster and Vendor POV which is advantageous position to be in! As Access Services & Localisation was brought in-house, it was a fantastic opportunity to continue working with Mags and Gemma McGullion.

We provide over 37,000 hours of live subtitling every year, more than any other UK broadcaster and as technology continues to innovate, we are taking Access Services & Localisation through AI and GenAI development.

Gemma McGullion

Senior Manager of Access Services and Localisation

Gemma McGullion: Senior Manager of Access Services and Localisation

I have worked at Sky for 16 years, starting out as the Runner; ferrying tapes back and forth around the campus! I learned so much about all the teams and workflows involved in getting content to transmission in this role; and Access Services was always my favourite!

I then joined the Media Management team and worked as a co-ordinator, supervisor, and manager across linear content and of course, Access Services. When we in-housed the Access Services team a few years ago, it was a great opportunity for me to fully focus on Access Services and Localisation and I took on the role of Senior Manager alongside Laura Miller.

I manage the Sky UK pre-recorded production and co-ordination teams that keep 27 Sky channels running with 100% of content subtitled, as well as the production and co-ordination of AD and localisation for Italy and Germany subtitling.

We are always looking for innovative ways to improve our productions and workflows while providing the best service for our customers at the heart of all we do.

Find Out More

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If you require more details, have a project you want to discuss or you would like to arrange a visit to our facility, we would love to hear from you!

UKContentServicesSales@sky.uk

Other Services

Please take some time to explore other areas we may be able to help.

If you require more details or pricing, please contact us, or book a visit at our headquarters at Osterley to see the teams in action.

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