quality of subtitles

Quality of subtitling on television

Universal monitoring is simply not possible, so feedback from viewers is our most important means of monitoring the quality of subtitling on television.

The broadcasters are aware that block subtitles – where the whole text appears at once in a closed caption – are generally preferred to rolling subtitles – where the words appear progressively across the screen, and they tend to follow the preference when they can.

Voice recognition

Rolling subtitles are inevitable for live programmes as they reduce the time delay between speech and subtitle. Increasingly, subtitles are being produced automatically through ‘voice recognition,’ sometimes to help cope with the shortage of stenographers for live programmes, but also to cut costs in the preparation of block titles for recorded programmes.

The best stenographers can make mistakes, and voice recognition equipment is far from perfect – so gobbledegook is sometimes the result. And all manner of technical failures can interrupt the flow of satisfactory subtitles.

Keep broadcasters on their toes

It is thus vital to keep the broadcasters on their toes: Complaints about BBC programmes should be made to the BBC’s Board of Governors and complaints about other broadcasters’ programmes should be made to OFCOM using their respective offical web-sites.

You can also complain directly to the programme producers: although they do not have direct responsibility for the subtitles, many will be concerned if their programmes have been transmitted with inadequate subtitles, and put pressure on their colleagues to improve the service.

The normal protocol for e-mail addresses is:-

BBC - firstname.surname@bbc.co.uk;
ITV -firstname.surname@itv.com;
Channel 4 – INITIALSURNAME@Channel4.co.uk
Five – firstname.surname@five.tv
BSkyB -firstname.surname@bskyb.com.

Don’t be put off if the credits of the programme you wish to complain about indicate that it was made by an independent production company: most now have their own web-site from which you will be able to find out how to contact the producer concerned – and it can only be helpful for he or she to learn that the poor quality of the subtitles spoiled your viewing.

Overlaying speech with music

For some time now the Group has been seeking to persuade the major broadcasters that overlaying speech with music and/or effects can make it impossible for many viewers to make out what is being said, and difficult and irritating for many more.

Our efforts, which have included presentations to senior production staff, have been directed not only at the broadcasters but at media colleges and other training bodies such as Skillset.

There have been some encouraging signs of a positive response from programme makers, but our efforts will continue. The approach has been to explain the scale and the nature of the problem for the hard of hearing, and to encourage a rational and sensitive approach. A guidance note for broadcasters can be seen under Incidental music and effects.