Improve subtitling for orally impaired people

[4Candles]

Thanks @Chrisee. Good link. Of course I know about Ofcom! Its remits are also limited. Furthermore, all of the watchdogs require you to first try and solve any problem by contacting the company causing it and Sky, logically, is the first port of call. The reason I thought Sky could have a policy that forces broadcasters who use their service is because they offer "packages." So, for a broadcaster to be included in the package, they must have T&C. I know Apple, Microsoft, and Google all have T&C if you want to use their platforms, and Sky "appears" to be a platform, so reasonable to assume Sky has influence. 

Though I wrote to Comedy Central, I have NOT had a reply. Considering they aren't following the guidelines, why are they permitted by Ofcom to broadcast? In fact, there are quite a number of programmes that do NOT show subtitles. Those that do include subtitles, are regularly breaking the guidelines regarding how they should be displayed.

All that apart, the interface Sky added is NOT intuitive (how often do you change the language and yet that it the first option and you have to get past it to get to the On/Off). What's more, I can turn off subtitles, switch channels, and find they are back on. Sky could, if wanted, add a global/local option.

All in all, subtitling is pretty crass in the UK. OTOH, subtitling on Netflix is pretty good (not perfect but near enough!).

[Chrisee]

@4Candles first point I dont work for Sky and I am ctitical of many things they do including subtitles. You clearly misunderstood the way broadcasting over satellite works hopefully you can now inderstand the system. 

If you want to feed back on any broadcast received you can email the Sky viewer relations team at viewerR@sky.uk who will pass your feedback to the broadcaster responsible. That does not unfortunately guarantee you will get a reply. My understanding is there is no obligation that 100% of programming is sub-titled. Broadcasters have quotas which are mentioned but not defined in the code I linked to.

The change to the Sky Q sub-titling is an example of how difficult it is to fit a legislative requirement into a system which had not antcipated the need. Sky had to offer the option to choose Welsh subtitles and the only way to do it was to introduce the change in the way they did. I think their developers are aware it is very clunky but we are told it was the only option other option than was a complete redesign which was not in scope. 

As I said Netflix is not hamstrung by 100 years of broadcasting legislation and started with a clean sheet - I bet Sky's customer interface designers are pretty envious.

[4Candles]

@Chrisee wrote, "Sky had to offer the option to choose Welsh subtitles and the only way to do it was to introduce the change in the way they did. I think their developers are aware it is very clunky but we are told it was the only option other option than was a complete redesign which was not in scope. "

I've been involved in desgin one way or another for over 25 years. I would've added on/off option first (used more often), then language (used less often), not the other way around. IAC. I soon discovered remote voice did a better job, though it cannot turn sound on/off! Huh?...Beggars belief how badly interfaces are designed and how few options are avabilalbe to customers. Of course, what people don't know, they don't miss. Sky interface is light years ahead of the one Virging Media uses (I think its an American import) but it hasn't had the love it needs (i.e., money spent on it).

Aside: I sussed out how to reorder favourites way back, then forgot. I added a few more last week. Then wanted to reorder them but couldn't work out how to do it! Searched, found nothing. Spent some more time and eventually worked out how to do it. Shouldn've have to for such a basic option. The interface should expose the option.

[mahcq]

Only going to get worse.

https://restofworld.org/2021/lost-in-translation-the-global-streaming-boom-is-creating-a-translator-...

[Anonymous]

Hi, I think the legislation you refer to is the Digital Economy Act, which I understand does not set quotas in law.

This act has been on the statue book for years but never enacted. Since it became law this government has asked ofcom to carry out 2 surveys, the last one was fed back to the government last year, but nothing has happened.

Suggest all who require Subtitles contact RNID and join their campaign called SUBTITLE IT!

[4Candles]

Signed the petition.