Local Theater Operator Has Concerns With Captioning Bill

A bill pending in the state Senate would require some movie theaters in Kentucky to offer films that have closed-captioning if its available.The measure would mandate that all movie complexes with five or more screens offer some showings of first-run movies that include closed captioning for the hearing impaired. Apex Theatre president Les Aberson says it would have to be coordinated with movie studios and distributors."There's no question about having it available for people to be able to see a movie. There's no question about that. But the question is, who is going to pay for it, how much is it going to cost and what's involved?"The bill's sponsor, Senator Ray Jones, could not be reached for comment. He says in a statement that the bill would allow hundreds of thousands of deaf and hard of hearing Kentuckians to enjoy movies in theaters. Aberson says his theaters offer assistive hearing devices to patrons.