Improve subtitling for orally impaired people

[4Candles]

Subtitling is an area that has been neglected by British broadcasters for decades. With so much technology at their fingertips, why are they not doing something about it? It's crude, takes up too much screen space when supported. Netflix has options regarding how they display and now BBC iPlayer also has similar options (after some 14 years, while showing small captions on News 24 for a decade or more!). 

Sky made recent changes and made a total balls up of it. It's sometimes impossible to turn them off, and when turned off still appear when you switch channels! Furthermore, the Off option is partly hidden (I missed it altogether at first then saw a smidgen of it). The language is the first option when the on/off should be the first and then the language (how often do English viewers change the language? If selected, I will wager most will never change it again). So now, to turn subtitels on/off, it requires you to press "?", then "English" then On/Off.

Have you ever watched a film in which characters start speaking in a foreign language and the subtiles switch to that language? Why? How am I supposed to understand Serbian or German? Sometimes two or even three lines are used, hiding the picture, when one would suffice. More crudely:

The whole experience is prehistoric (historic as in technology years). Where possible, Sky needs to improve the service. Where not possible, it needs to work with the company that auto-generates subtitles and/or the programme broadcasters. For example, Comedy Central doesn't show subtitles. Why is that allowed on Sky? Sky could easily have a policy that insists on any broadcaster wanting to use Sky must support subtitles, and options to increase/decrease font size, and background colour (I would, and do reduce it on Netflix so I can also see the film, and dark or light background -- I would always choose a light grey background).

[GD1]

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@4Candles wrote:

Sky could easily have a policy that insists on any broadcaster wanting to use Sky must support subtitles, and options to increase/decrease font size, and background colour (I would, and do reduce it on Netflix so I can also see the film, and dark or light background -- I would always choose a light grey background).

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Well no they can't, Sky have no legal powers to make a broadcaster have such & such to be included on the Sky EPG, the only people who can enforce any such rules is Ofcom.

If Sky did try to make impositions Ofcom would be down on them like a ton of bricks for making what could be unfair rules preventing the smaller broadcaster from being on the Sky Platform/EPG.

So it would be completely unworkable.

[SDR]

@4Candles 

Voice Remote subtitles off / on works like a charm it's never been easier

[4Candles]

@Anonymous That is pure conjecture and doesn't help the discussion along one iota.

[4Candles]

@SDR

Regrdless Voice Remote, the option is there and it doesn't work like a charm, and neither does the large type for people who don't have sight issues. Hence the discussion.

If options were presented, viewers with sight issues could select large font and different backgrounds, or even high contrast pictures. I would select small font as I want to see the picture.

[GD1]

@4Candles  No it isn't conjecture, Ofcom make the rules on broadcasting and what Broadcasters can or can't do, not Sky.   

Sky also cannot make up new rules that would be detrimental to other broadcasters simply to be included on the EPG.   

Sky have no control over Satellite Transmissions and therefore cannot impose additional Technical parameters.

[Mark39]

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@4Candles wrote:

@Anonymous That is pure conjecture and doesn't help the discussion along one iota.

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Which bit? It's perfectly correct that it's only the regulator, OFCOM, who can tell broadcasters what they need to do. It's not within Sky's  purview to do so.

[4Candles]

@Anonymous Can you be so kind as to point me to the Ofcom rules that would prevent Sky providing a service fit for purpose?

[GD1]

@4Candles  Feel free to have a perusal https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code

As long as broadcasters are complying then Ofcom won't do anything.  

[4Candles]

Thanks for the link...So nothing there to suggest OFCOM woud revoke Sky's licence if it had terms and conditions that said broadcaster must provide subtitles (Comedy Central, as I pointed out plus some other channels do not at present).

[GD1]

@4Candles  As already said in the case of Channels not run by Sky they cannot enforce anything on them, only Ofcom can do this.

You would be better off approaching Ofcom regarding your views, they can tell you what you need to know.  The forum can't and the thread is likely to go nowhere.

[4Candles]

@Anonymous

One, subtitling options ARE implemented and controlled by Sky.

Two, Ofcom will NOT tell Sky how to run it business unless it goes against their remit (I looked at the link you provided and there is nothing relevant on the page).

Three, Sky does have muscle regarding who broadcasts on Sky and I warrant they have contracts, which will have T&C (cannot be found on the Sky site, nor by googling).

Four, in my experience, these kind of thread go nowwhere because there are too many nay sayers in forums (not accusing you of being one), and not enough participants with a vision and a willgness to help; i.e., like thread, input fresh ideas, instead of shooting them down.

My suggestion of Sky adding a clause to their T&C is an idea. If they can implement it, why aren't they? If they cannot, they cannot. Microsoft and Apple have T&C for application developers, why is Sky any different? It's just a platfom like Windows and maOS.

Assuming Sky reads these suggestions, someone from Sky could also answer if they really wanted to improve the experience for their customers.

[Annie+UK]

"The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United Kingdom"

You obviously don't know the purpose of a govenment-approved regulator if you don't think they can tell sky what they can or can't do

[GD1]

@4Candles  You are correct in one thing at least, this thread won't go anywhere as you believe Sky controls all broadcasts on Satellite when they don't.

I have nothing further to add to the thread as you have already been told the correct information.

[Chrisee]

@4Candles this is the guidance  Ofcom issue on TV Access services while it does not have the force of law it is what the industry follows. Think Highway Code for.broadcasters

Out of the many hundred or services your Q box can receive only a minority are under Sky's control most of those carry their brand. The others are broadcast by companies who hold broadcast lisences issued by Ofcom. Sky cannot impose standards on them not connected with their epg system. This is for practical reasons for example the BBC broadcast the same programming over several systems including Freeview, Freesat and Sky, the Freesat and Sky brosdcasts are actually the same stream it is just the epg data that differs. 

The Ofcom standards for sub titles do date back a number of years but as you will see that guide is dated as Feb 21. Ofcom do periodically consult on their guidance so keep an eye on their site if you want your views taken into account.  Disability advocacy charities arecanother route my ex-employers did input to these reviews.

Netflix are not currently regulated by Ofcom for historic reasons they are still regulsted by the Dutch equivelent but thst is planned to change.