No subtitles on Playlist or Watch from Start

[TotalTOPS]

This happens on the Alibi channel for certain and perhaps is a more widespread problem.

If I watch a programme on the Alibi channel "Live" then I can get subtitles.

However if I switch in part way through and select the "watch from start" option then subtitles are not available.

This also seems to be true if you watch such a programme from the Playlist (e.g. laast week's episode)

I am not convinced this is a purely Stream issue as using a Sky+ box and using the Catch-up or Planner feature had a similar issue, so it is possible down to the way the programmes are "stored" for after the event streaming

[Exiled-in-HH]

I can't find any Alibi on-demand with subtitles on NOWTV🙁

[NandH]

I'm having this problem too. On demand, catch up, often don't have subtitles. I'm not at all convinced by '3rd party restrictions' explanations. Sky is always trumpeting their wonderful advances in technology/functionality and yet we are left out in the cold. . It's been a problem for a long time and the lack of response and action feels discriminatory to me. 

[TotalTOPS]

The following appears on the UKTV Play website - dated February 2020

Due to technical restrictions it isn't straightforward to add subtitles onto our shows when they appear on third-party platforms (such as Sky and Virgin). We are working with our providers to find the best solution - and we are aware that there's still more work for us to do to improve accessibility via on-demand.

But 4 years on they have not solved the issue. I have asked UKTV Play for a status update on this issue but not received a reply

I have, however, discovered a bonus. If you select an Episode of Death In Paradise on Alibi (part of UKTV Play) which is being transmitted on today's schedule - join it one minute in (or 59 minutes in ) and selected the View from Start option - then you fail to get subtitles, but what you do get is the full one hour version, without adverts, not the cut down 45 minute version with adverts which is playing "live".

 I hope if they ever fix the subtitles issue, they don't also "fix" the full version/no adverts "issue"

[NandH]

That's very interesting- 4 years in and they're still 'working on it'. Clearly not anywhere near the top of the list then.

Thanks for the tip about ad free workaround. 

[Maggie4]

I have just emailed UKTV for an update on this, really need subtitles when I stream and not just when I watch "live".  You would think that all the money spent on their rebranding some might have gone towards this problem! I suppose I will get the standard reply - 3rd party etc. etc.

[Sekhmet]

Thanks to everyone for answering my question about Alibi. I had same problem with U Drama but watching directly through app, not Sky stream, has worked so far. My remaining question is why is Alibi not available on U (KTV) app? It appears to be firmly behind a paywall on Sky, Prime, & NOW TV.  

[MarkGoldsmith]

---

@Sekhmet wrote:

Thanks to everyone for answering my question about Alibi. I had same problem with U Drama but watching directly through app, not Sky stream, has worked so far. My remaining question is why is Alibi not available on U (KTV) app? It appears to be firmly behind a paywall on Sky, Prime, & NOW TV.  

---

That will be a decision from the owners of the channel UKTV. Some of their channels are free-to-air but a few of their channels are their premium channels like Alibi and Gold which requires a subscription to watch via a number of partners ( Sky, Virgin etc).