To want subtitles on On Demand programmes

[MarvellousMarbles]

It's so frustrating that subtitles are not available on On Demand programmes. The only reason for it is that broadcasters aren't forced to make them available (the legislation doesn't cover digital programming since that hadn't even been thought of at the time!)

I hate the fact that I can't watch any of the programmes the rest of the family does, because for me not having subtitles is the equivalent of having no soundtrack.

If anyone else feels the same, Action on Hearing Loss have started a campaign to ask the Minister for Culture to deliver on his promise to review legislation.

Subtitles Campaign

[crumblybiscuits]

YANBU even if I do only use them out of habit/enjoying reading instead of listening, it really does frustrate me.

[KnittyFoxyMa]

YANBU, I use them a lot, sound carries in our house so the TV has to be on quite a low volume when the kids are asleep. It has become a habit and I do think I rely on them. I get really annoyed with some of the channels (Sky Living and 5USA spring to mind,) which don't have subtitles, I think it is horribly marginalising for the Deaf community.

[namechange0dq8]

I don't follow. I have some hearing loss, and I routinely stick the subtitles on if there's background noise in the room. That works on iPlayer, ITV on demand and 4OD. The 4OD version is in a bit of a small font, but otherwise I can't see what your problem is: BBC, ITV and C4 all offer subtitles on their on-demand content, which are at least as good (and often better synchronised) as the broadcast version.

[Shakey1500]

YANBU. I enjoy having the subtitles on sometimes. It can't be that hard to do given today's technology.

[FretYeNotAllIsShiny]

I don't have hearing loss but I watch all tv with subtitles. I find it hard to discern speech sometimes when there is background noise. I find on demand to be okay for subtitles, but netflix can be a pain.

[NormaStits]

I agree. They're on the computer versions of iplayer, demand 5 etc. My android and virgin iplayer have subtitles but all the others don't. So it's not even like they don't have them at all online, just only on the windows pc platform.

My other bugbear is having live subtitles on non-live programmes like Gogglebox. I emailed C4 about this, citing something I'd read online saying that they just needed 30mins advance to be able to make proper subtitles. I said I knew Gogglebox is filmed close to airing but could they not just bring the subtitler in 30 mins earlier. All I got back was a patronising stock answer of 'unfortunately gogglebox is filmed close to transmission' email.

[sashh]

They are available on Sky, not found a programme they are not available on

[MarvellousMarbles]

Have a look at the campaign page in my OP.

80% of all catchup and on demand services in the UK have NO subtitles. BT and Virgin provide no subtitles on catchup and on demand. Sky provides subtitles on just 4% of catchup and on demand.

It is clearly possible to do it (they provide subtitles on much more of their broadcast TV services, because they have to). They don't on catchup/on demand because they don't have to.

[BugritAndTidyup]

They are available on Sky, not found a programme they are not available on

Not on On Demand programs they're not.

[MarvellousMarbles]

Exactly, Bugrit.

[MarvellousMarbles]

Oh and Amazon Prime instant video - hardly any of their stuff has subtitles.

[EponasWildDaughter]

YADNBU

I have no hearing problems, but we started using STs a lot when our DD was new born and downstairs with us every evening and we wanted the telly down low. Even though DD is now 18 months and goes up to bed DH and i have both found that for films we still like the STs on as we follow the plot so much better if we can read the dialogue.

No idea weather this is down to actors mumbling these days, the action sounds drowning out the speech, or something to do with our attention span, but i hate it now if we put a movie on and there's no subtitles. Netflicks and Playstation rental - looking at you! I have to concentrate SO much harder and get confused with the plot and names of characters etc. if i cant read them.

[namechange0dq8]

BT and Virgin provide no subtitles on catchup and on demand.

In each case, what stops you from using iPlayer directly? The subtitles work on my TV using the builtin iPlayer, and work similarly when I use a twenty quid NowTV box. You've got a broadband connection: nothing forces you to use that company's catchup service.

Sky provides subtitles on just 4% of catchup and on demand.

YABU to be giving money to Murdoch in exchange for shit TV, though.

[Artistic]

I've started watching my favourite soaps on Netflix (bold yellow subtitles) rather than sky on demand for this reason alone. Not always available though. Yanbu.

[FretYeNotAllIsShiny]

I'm on virgin, I'm pretty sure their catchup has subtitles, though I don't use their ondemand. Though I have tivo, so perhaps thats why?

[MarvellousMarbles]

name change - isn't iplayer only for BBC? That's quite a limited set of programmes. I just want to watch the programmes the rest of the house are watching, but with the subtitles on. I don't want to watch on my computer or any other complicated method, just watch the house TV (which incidentally doesn't have a broadband connection, not that it would make a difference for Sky catch up / on demand).

[BitOutOfPractice]

YANBU I have no hearing issues and I often struggle to catch what actors are mumbling saying

[namechange0dq8]

isn't iplayer only for BBC?

ITV on demand covers ITV 1, 2, 3, 4.

4OD covers 4, E4, more4.

All support subtitles.

I don't want to watch on my computer or any other complicated method, just watch the house TV

So plug a NowTV box into it, price twenty quid. Job done.

[MrsHathaway]

I'm already involved.

It's vastly frustrating to know that if I set a programme to record on Sky I will get subtitles, but if I use the same box to download the same programme after the fact then I won't get them. Why?!

[VeryPunny]

The subtitles on iPlayer are massively unreliable - they always give up the ghost after 10 mins, meaning I can't access most content.Unacceptable fore a publicly funded service.

[MarvellousMarbles]

It's vastly frustrating to know that if I set a programme to record on Sky I will get subtitles, but if I use the same box to download the same programme after the fact then I won't get them. Why?!

Exactly!!!

namechange - I think you are completely missing the point. I don't want to set up complicated ways of watching things, going through different technologies to watch different channels (which still excludes all the channels like Sky Atlantic which I tend to watch) or buying extra boxes to connect to my TV. I am not a technological person, and I watch TV to relax, not to fiddle about with multiple technologies.

Every method of showing programmes should have subtitles inbuilt. It's not hard to do, and a simple extension of the law which already covers traditional broadcast methods could sort it out.

If anyone wants to click through the link on my OP to email the Minister for Culture, it could help give him the necessary push to review the legislation - as he has previously promised to do!

[StillFrankie]

I don't really watch internet shows. We have amazon instant video but I dont really use it myself. DH wants to get Netflix but isn't that the same kinda thing as amazon?

[StillFrankie]

Marvellous I suspect I know you in RL btw

[fredfredgeorgejnr]

Erm, just watch the house TV (which incidentally doesn't have a broadband connection, not that it would make a difference for Sky catch up / on demand).

All catch up services rely on a broadband connection, Sky's catch up services are delivered over broadband, whilst I absolutely agree that subtitles should be required, it's a good idea to understand what you're campaigning about.

Incidentally it is relatively complicated to do, if it was easy, the broadcasters wouldn't need pushing, viewers do expect it.

[MarvellousMarbles]

fredfred, there's no point in me attaching the broadband when I can't use the catchup service. But I get your point. Thing is, I don't want to understand the technology behind subtitles, I just want them to be available. A bit like TV in general, really.