Subtitles with Q160.

[Mick8491]

@Kei+M The voice control does work but there is still no capability to alter the size or colour of the font as per Amazon and Netflix. 
Is this feature ever going to be implemented? 

[Foubi+B]

Hi @MightyQuinn - 

I recently got the Q160 update.  My problem is that the subtitles will not switch off and remain off!!  They are marked as "off" in the Accessibility Settings.

Thank you for the suggestion to use Voice Control.  So far, they have remained off.  However, if I use the "?" button - even if the subtitles are marked as off, they return as soon as I either change channel or start to play a recording.  I'll use voice control - thank you.  Very helpful.

[MightyQuinn]

---

@Foubi+B wrote:

Hi @MightyQuinn - 

I recently got the Q160 update.  My problem is that the subtitles will not switch off and remain off!!  They are marked as "off" in the Accessibility Settings.

Thank you for the suggestion to use Voice Control.  So far, they have remained off.  However, if I use the "?" button - even if the subtitles are marked as off, they return as soon as I either change channel or start to play a recording.  I'll use voice control - thank you.  Very helpful.

---

Hi @Foubi+B   I would try a power reboot of your box. Leave it switched off for a good 30 seconds.

[Kei+M]

---

@Mick8491 wrote:

@Kei+M The voice control does work but there is still no capability to alter the size or colour of the font as per Amazon and Netflix. 
Is this feature ever going to be implemented? 

---

Not in the near future in terms of subtitles.

From what I understand there are some very dilapidated (in my opinion) Ofcom guidelines around how subtitles are shown that only apply to broadcast TV but not streaming services. I've stolen the below from Ofcom’s Guidelines on the Provision of Television Access Services 

Spoiler

A1.14 Presentation: subtitling should use the Tiresias Screenfont for all subtitles. Subtitles
on standard definition DTT services should be no less than 20 television lines for
the capital ‘V’, to include those lines at the top and bottom of each character
containing pixels that are at least 50% illuminated. Although Ofcom does not
regulate equipment used to render subtitles in cable and satellite services, Ofcom
also recommends that cable and satellite platform providers adhere to the same
standards. Broadcasters are encouraged to use antialiasing techniques to help
make the appearance of subtitles clearer. Subtitles should be placed within the
‘safe caption area’ of a 14:9 display and should normally occupy the bottom of the
screen, except where they would obscure the speaker’s mouth or other vital
information or activity. It is particularly important to avoid obscuring the face, as this
conveys emotions and tone of voice, as well as being necessary for lip-reading.

A1.15 Pre-recorded and live subtitles: pre-prepared block subtitles are the best approach
to providing accurate, easily legible and well-synchronised subtitles and should be
used for pre-recorded programmes. Recommended colours are white, yellow, cyan
and green against a solid black background as these provide the best contrast.
When scrolling subtitles need to be used, any scripted material should be used for
Ofcom’s Code on Television Access Services 21 advance preparation. In addition to achieving the highest possible levels of accuracy and synchronisation, live subtitles should flow continuously and smoothly.

A1.16 Lay-out: subtitles should normally comprise a single sentence occupying no more
than two lines, unless three lines will not obscure the picture. If necessary,
sentences should be broken or reformed into more than one sentence at natural
linguistic breaks so that each subtitle forms an understandable segment. Where
breaks occur, the split should be made in a way that makes clear that there is more
to come. This can be achieved by ending the first subtitle with a conjunction, a
colon or semi-colon as appropriate, or even a short run of dots. Line breaks within a
word must be avoided.

Thanks,

[Mick8491]

@Kei+M 

Thanks for pointing that out.

I just wonder how users with smaller TV screens get on. My screen is not massive, 42" but surely on a smaller screen the subtitles are obscuring far more detail.

[valjean26]

When will Sky developers realise that they rarely make changes for the better and never look at unintended consequences, why ask people to select the language ( English ) when it is the default language anyway and there is no other language to chose from. Driving me mad wonderring why  I had to select a language and when I changed channels the subtitles came on regardless. Fortunatley I after much searching found that using the voice control for subtitle on/off works fine. When user operational changes are made with software updates there should be a section on the SKY website to alert or advise customers of changes iinstead of having to ring up customer advisors who themselves had no idea that the subtitle functionality had changed. The advisor I spoke with had no idea what had happened with the language changes until she logged on to the community forum and managed to point me in the right direction.

[Mick8491]

@valjean26 

Not only that but if you pause live programmes with subtitles already disabled, eg football match, when play is resumed the subtitles come on! Arrrggghhh

[Kei+M]

---

@Mick8491 wrote:

@valjean26 

Not only that but if you pause live programmes with subtitles already disabled, eg football match, when play is resumed the subtitles come on! Arrrggghhh

---

That's a bug we're fixing, admittedly it'll probably be a few months before we're in a position to deploy it though. 

Thanks, 

[CarlW2020]

---

@timspinks wrote:

This change is such a nuisance. Please let the box remember choices rather than turning off the subtitles every time you change channel. We use subtitles for recorded programmes but not live ones when the lag is difficult. Please Sky give us back the previous version. This is unusable

---

Mine switches them on every time. 🤔🤷‍♂️ 

[CarlW2020]

Still can't edit posts  😠

---

@Kei+M wrote:

---

@Mick8491 wrote:

@valjean26 

Not only that but if you pause live programmes with subtitles already disabled, eg football match, when play is resumed the subtitles come on! Arrrggghhh

---

That's a bug we're fixing, admittedly it'll probably be a few months before we're in a position to deploy it though. 

Thanks, 

---

Sounds like as I described above. "A few months"? 😠

[Mick8491]

Thanks @Kei+M,

at last we seem to be getting  some response to our queries.

[CarlW2020]

Jut wanted to say that I was actually wrong; and seemingly posted in haste. The only thing wrong was that subtitles had somehow been switched on by default i n the Accessibility setting. Certainly wasn't me! 🤷‍♂️

[Bouldersun]

This recent subtitles change is really annoying and a massive backward step. Please change it back.

I used to be able, with a couple of key presses, to activate subtitles which would continue if I changed channels or between recordings and channels etc.

Now there is a further pointless step (English or off) to get subtitles on AND even worse I have to do it all over again and again EVERY time I change channel! Ridiculous! 

And if , as suggested, I go in via Home > settings > accessibility; it is  one key press then another 11+ then another 4 then another 4.   And then they are always on on every channel unless I switch them off via ? Etc every time I change channel; or I go through all of them steps via Home.   Which is a massive pain when I share the house with others who don't want them on all the time and don't want to have to switch them off at every channel change.  Please change it back to how it was - being able to select it with just two key presses and it stays on on all channels until I deselect it with just two key presses. I hate it.

[Rhonny]

@Kei+M

admittedly it'll probably be a few months before we're in a position to deploy it though. 

It's no wonder Sky gets the flak it does. Sometimes it really warrants it. 

[CarlW2020]

Usually from people who have no understanding of how programming works and why it might take so long to make such a, seemingly, cmall change.