Subtitles with Q160.

[CarlW2020]

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@Bouldersun wrote:

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.

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You (should) only have to go into Accessibility once  to change it from "on" to "off" if you don't want subtitles; and whilst I agree about the extra step to switch them on and off through the 'subtitles' menu, I can see the merits of having other subtitles available and - to be honest - the streaming services work in the same way.

Ask Sky for a voice remote. Much easier that way 🙂

[Rhonny]

@CarlW2020

I'm sure that if you're hard of hearing, then subtitles having an inconsistent behaviour can make a couple of months feel like a year... 

[Jan+a+nan]

Please put subtitles back to how they were.   I cannot afford a voice controled remote and it's the last thing I would want.  I just seen to be forever pressing buttons.  What a Pain!

[Eldonny]

My voice control used to change subtitles before Q160 but doesn't anymore.  Any suggestions?

[Eldonny]

My voice control used to change subtitles but doesn't anymore since Q160.  Any suggestions? @Kei 

[MightyQuinn]

Hi @Eldonny   Turning Subtitles on and off using voice control has not changed with Q160. It works exactly the same as all previous releases. You could try initialising your remote by holding down 7 & 9 until the led flashes 4 times and then pairing it again using 1 & 3. To play safe try power rebooting your router and Sky Q box first.

[ValTh]

What's the point of it?  I only have an option for English, so would prefer to revert to straightforward on or off

[MightyQuinn]

Hi @ValTh   Have a look at page 1 of this thread.

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Q/Subtitles-with-Q160/m-p/3718764#M446154

[xenon81]

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@Kei+M wrote:

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@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? 

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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,

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The text size of subtitles on DTT (Freeview) is smaller than Sky.

Sky's subtitles are much bigger than the minimum level set by Ofcom.  

[Eldonny]

Thanks for your reply.  I have done what you suggest and it now works fine. Thanks.

[HKB]

I don't even know if I have Q160 but my Sky Q box seems to update periodically.

I agree with everyone who has said that this recent subtitles change is really annoying and a massive backward step.  Why fix it if it ain't broke?

Previously with a couple of key presses, I could turn subtitles on which would continue if I changed channels or between recordings.  Now there is a further extra step (English or off) to get subtitles on AND even worse I have to repeat the procedure EVERY time I change channel! Totally nuts!

Sky subtitles are huge as well obscuring half the screen.  Why can't we adjust them.

I guess Sky developers don't have any regard for people who are hard of hearing as I am.

How many of us have to complain before Sky do something about this?

[Bouldersun]

Totally agree HKB. Thecsubtitle change has not imprived things and has in fact done the opposite and made things far more awkward at every channel change. It makes no sense. Why is no-one from Sky listening to these comments, realising the very hegative impact of the change, and looking at changing things back and finding an actual practical way to incorporate the alternative language without this real problem? 

[Gre82]

These things don't happen by accident. Somebody has identified an issue, somebody has raised a solution, somebody has programmed a solution, somebody has tested that solution, somebody has approved that solution. Likely those 'somebodies' are multiple people and teams.

How on earth have so many people made such a big error?

[Mick8491]

@HKB 

I agree with your comments and on top of that, if you actually pause and the continue a live program the subtitles come back! Arrgggh!

I have mentioned this in a previous comment and did get a reply from a Sky employee.

Sky is aware of the problem and are working on a fix but don't expect it to be done for a few months.

So after all of our comments over the past couple of years Sky have at last managed to make a change to subtitles, by making them worse.

[Federica-C]

Hi everyone,

You can find more information about this change in Why are subtitles not staying on or off on Sky Q?