Speech intelligibility of broadcast audio depends on many factors.
At the broadcaster, recording, processing, mixing and deficiencies in the transmission chain all play a part. At home, the receiver technology, the acoustic conditions in the listening room and the individual hearing characteristics of the listener all have a bearing. The problem is very complex.
Despite various recommendations, guidelines, directives and publications, complaints continue to arise. Audience reactions thereby reflect a wide range of individual auditory impressions.
The article examines several factors that can influence sound quality from a programme’s conception to its consumption at home, looking at the various technical, economic and even speaker/performance issues that affect speech intelligibility.
Keywords: Speech Intelligibility, Loudness Normalisation, Inclusion, Access Service, Sound Quality, Speech Comprehension, Hearing Loss.
