CBC announces more inclusive broadcasts for Stanley Cup Final

Earlier today CBC announced that for the first time ever their Stanley Cup Final coverage on Hockey Night in Canada will be broadcasted using American Sign Language (ASL) for hearing impaired hockey fans.

CBC made the announcement on their official website, noting that Saturday's Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will mark the first time a major sports league will air a game in ASL.

"This is a great first step of having representation, having deaf people on screen, having the Deaf community connect to people like them," said Brice Christianson, the founder and CEO of P-X-P, the company who will be doing the broadcast. "For the NHL to sign off on this and to believe in this, it's groundbreaking. It's truly historic and also they've doubled down and said that they want to continue to do this."

Personally, I think this is a very, very cool initiative. I'm all for anything that makes the game more accessible to underserved fans.

"For us to be able to have this real-time coverage of play by play and colour commentary in American Sign Language being called directly as opposed to a re-interpretation is really what the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community want," said Kim Davis, the NHL's senior executive VP of social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs.

"It's what they deserve. That makes the game truly meaningful for them. It is not like you're re-interpreting for them basically from another language. They are hearing the game live in their own language and the way in which they understand it best."