James O'Hara (announcer)
Encyclopedia
James O'Hara is a former Scottish
television continuity announcer.
O'Hara, a graduate of Manchester University and Aberdeen University, worked at Grampian Television
as a staff announcer and newsreader.
He switched to BBC Scotland
during the mid 1970s and became one of their first full-time television announcers. In common with other BBC Scotland announcers, O'Hara also directed transmission and read Scottish News summaries both in and out of vision.
He left the corporation in 1988 and became a freelance for BBC North East
and BBC West Yorkshire FM
(now known as BBC Radio Leeds). In 1994, O'Hara became an audio describer for Audetel, a trial providing audio description of television programmes for blind and partially sighted viewers. The trial was a success and led to the legislation of audio description for digital terrestrial television within the 1996 Broadcasting Act.
O'Hara is now the managing editor of the ITFC's audio description department and continues to work as an audio describer on television programmes and films.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
television continuity announcer.
O'Hara, a graduate of Manchester University and Aberdeen University, worked at Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
as a staff announcer and newsreader.
He switched to BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
during the mid 1970s and became one of their first full-time television announcers. In common with other BBC Scotland announcers, O'Hara also directed transmission and read Scottish News summaries both in and out of vision.
He left the corporation in 1988 and became a freelance for BBC North East
BBC North East and Cumbria
BBC North East and Cumbria is the BBC English Region covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, North Yorkshire, Teesside and all but the southern part of Cumbria...
and BBC West Yorkshire FM
BBC Radio Leeds
BBC Radio Leeds is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of West Yorkshire.- Frequencies :It broadcasts from its studios at St...
(now known as BBC Radio Leeds). In 1994, O'Hara became an audio describer for Audetel, a trial providing audio description of television programmes for blind and partially sighted viewers. The trial was a success and led to the legislation of audio description for digital terrestrial television within the 1996 Broadcasting Act.
O'Hara is now the managing editor of the ITFC's audio description department and continues to work as an audio describer on television programmes and films.