Why do Sky place subtitles in the middle of the screen in front of important details?

[Unders2]

This is the reply I received from Sky on 24/1/25:

Thank you for your further email to Sky regarding the size of background of the subtitles.

The subtitle format we use is called Teletext. It is a fixed font and unfortunately you can’t alter it to make it smaller or bigger.

We use Teletext as Sky Set Top Boxset can only decode that format at the moment. This is something we are looking into though, but at the moment the size cannot be changed.

Hope this helps.  

Kind regards

Linda

Sky Viewer Relations

[Bernadette24]

That's exactly the same response I got from them about 5 years ago! So clearly they have absolutely no plans to look into it or change it at all. 

[SF10]

Cost to much to replace everyone's sky box, that's what their saying yet again and have been for years !

They charge so much, surely they can afford to change our sky box !

Why are they using archaic teletext anyway???

If their competitors can do it why can't sky ??

[Mark39]

One does wonder, given that Sky's satellite broadcasting days appear to be numbered, and there's a system based on Teletext already in place which works, whether anything more customisable has much priority now in the development schedule.

[Grumpyoldie]

To Sky viewer treltions team,

This is a very disappointing response. Current tech and advances in software this shouldm be possible all too easily. From the numerous responses to my query thisis a problem that should have been solved and rather sooner than later.

I would appreciate your advanced 'tech teams' come up with a solution sooner rtaher than alter.

As partially deaf this would enhance my appreciation of my recent sky customer experience.

Thank you for your replay,

Richard

R S Edwards

[Daniel0210]

@Grumpyoldie 

You aren't speaking to Sky Customer Services here or their Viewer Relations Team. We are fellow customers.

[Mark39]

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@Grumpyoldie wrote:

To Sky viewer treltions team,

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You can raise it with Viewer Relations by emailing them at viewerr@sky.uk

[Badger222]

Likely to leave Sky over this one issue. Also because I can see it isnt being sorted out (for whatever reason  -I can now see it's been a problem for years and I have read some of the Sky responses and I so wish I had seen this before I was 'upgraded').

I have just (finally) been 'upgraded' to SkyQ as a free upgrade from my old beloved Sky+ box. All seems okish except for this veryissue. I cannot believe how awful the subtitles are. My partner is hearing impaired and I frequently use subtitles also for my own viewing sometimes. In order or precedence the problems for me are -

1. Position - they are so high they obliterate much of the screen and very often the speaker, interfering with viewing and/or even lipreading etc. Why no option to move them. If option to move is difficult then why is the default position not suitable? Why does the use of subtitles mean we can't really watch TV satisfactorily ?

2. The size - why no option to change the size ? For my eye sight and room set up they are far far too big (and in the wrong place - compounds the problem).

3. The design. A lot about the visual of SkyQ is so ugly and harsh compared to other systems and SDky+. Why are the colours so hard and no option to change to suit whatever sight levels we all have ?? I am finding readint them tiring when it shouldn't be.

They do indeed take me right back to Teletext days.

Two things now considering -

1. Ditching this upgrade completely and Sky also - this would be a good prompt to spend less - I'm out of contract by decades but even if I weren't I'd argue this is unacceptable.

2. I will for sure make sure partner does not accept similar 'upgrade' on two old Sky+ subscriptions without having seen them. Likely three subscriptions lost very soon here - there are so many other ways to watch most Sky content. 

3. I actually consider this a disability issue and one which Sky are not dealing with properly/possibly not lawfully. Why on earth should those reliant on subtitles be so woefully served here so as to have their screen covered when trying to watch ?? Pretty angry about this and wondering about persuing a formal complaint of some sort.

[Mark39]

@Badger222 I'd be surprised if you're not 'in contract' following your recent upgrade to Sky Q.

By all means raise a complaint and I'm sure Sky will be suitably apologetic. I doubt you could argue a breach of regulatory requirements solely because Sky's subtitles aren't aesthetic.

We know Sky Q and Sky+ boxes are using a (ancient) Teletext chip to provide the subtitles, which doesn't offer the ability to customise their appearance. It would appear that so far Sky have been unable to find a way around it.

[Elim+Garak]

"Unable"? I'd rather say "unwilling".

[Mark39]

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@Elim+Garak wrote:

"Unable"? I'd rather say "unwilling".

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Yes, I'm sure you would.

[Badger222]

Certainly wouldn't argue pure aesthetics as a contractual or eg DDA (disability discrimination act) issue. It was my third personal gripe. Any serious challenge would be on 1 and 2 which are more intrinsically about contract performance and disability provision.  Obliterated screen and inability to see what we are paying for as a result are the grounds. 

[Badger222]

Re being out of contract I am indeed despite the 'upgrade'. As old sky+ box user I received letter saying the boxes would start not to be updated and so I needed to 'upgrade' to SkyQ. Engineers estimated sky+ will start to be noticeably problematic summer this year. Mine had already started disconnecting from WiFi (using the mini hub). Anyway I don't have a new contract as none of this was at my request or choice but rather sky needed to replace their equipment. May live with skyq for a short while or just ditch it. 

[xenon81]

Did you not have problems with the size/position of subtitles on Sky+HD? It uses exactly the same Teletext based subtitles as Sky Q, there is no difference between them and neither system provides any display options for subtitles. 

[Badger222]

That's a great Q and I am mystified if as you say sky+ and SkyQ share the same subtitle system (and behave the same way). I didn't have any trouble with subtitles using my old sky+ box (and same tv).  The sky+ box subtitles were unobtrusive (box from 2014) and the previous large white/grey sky+ boxes seemed ok also. I've never before had any problem and use subtitles at least 30% viewing time. 🤔