The amount of tv/films without subtitles is BULLSHIT

[Closethegate]

I don’t even have hearing issues but I like havin the subtitles on, have used them for years.

I’d say there’s about a 30% hit rate for programmes having subtitles. Which if you did have hearing issues is fucking ridiculous. How hard can it be to programme subtitles, especially on play back ffs, can imagine more issues with live tv etc

AIBU to think they need to pull their fingers out. Whoever they are

I think, going by experience, that it takes a lot of time, talent, and money to add subtitles to a television show or film, and oftentimes more indie or less funded productions won't have the budget for that. It's sad, and yes, I see it's inconvenient for people who can't hear, but they're not making a deliberate choice to omit the subtitles at hearing impaired people. Logistics just often dictate otherwise.

And you don't even have hearing issues, so this is a complete non-issue for you. When an actually hearing impaired person highlights this as an actual issue affecting the hearing impaired community, I'll take note. (Or, language barriers. That, I could understand too.)

Do you often look for other people's soap boxes to stand on? Suggest a hobby perhaps.

Try Netflix they have loads.

Which channels are you watching?

I like having the subtitles on. We have freesat, and I can get subtitles on most channels, certainly on all the “big” channels like the channels run under the BBC / ITV / C4 / Sky umbrellas.

The more niche channels don’t always have subtitles, but IME I can get subtitles on over 70% of the stuff I watch.

I was surprised (disappointed) to find that the drama miniseries "Innocent" on ITVPlayer didn't have subtitles. I'm very used to watching on the weekend morning with subtitles, whilst my autistic son makes a lot of noise alongside me. Is this standard for the ITVPlayer? Never had an issue with BBCiPlayer or All4.

Really? My dad usually puts the subtitles on for my DSM as English isn’t her first language and sometimes she struggles with local dilalcts (?), and I don’t think I ever recall a programme not having them? I think they tend to stick to the main 4 channels and Netflix though.

I have lost my hearing due to a burst ear drum and I have found it incredibly frustrating. I am hoping my hearing loss is temporary but I can only watch Netflix or the main channels for subtitles.

The hit count is even lower for On Demand services, even when the programme had subtitles when shown live.

Sky recently sent out a big software update so the planner displays differently. It used to have a whole tab showing only subtitled listings, but they've done away with it. I actually cried when I realised.

I am deaf but depends where you are looking. Sky and virgin media for their on demand services is awful!! Tv not so bad and netflix is pretty good!

“And you don't even have hearing issues, so this is a complete non-issue for you. When an actually hearing impaired person highlights this as an actual issue affecting the hearing impaired community, I'll take note. (Or, language barriers. That, I could understand too.)”

They’ve been highlighting it for years.

There’s currently an issue with Apple that prevents the BBC from having subtitles on iPlayer - don’t know all the ins and outs, but I’m sure it’s publicised somewhere.

In many cases, the subtitles are already there but are not transferred to DVDs. ITV shows are particularly bad for this.

When an actually hearing impaired person highlights this as an actual issue affecting the hearing impaired community, I'll take note.

Er, we have. For years. All, please don’t say ‘hearing impaired’, it’s an outdated and offensive term. It should be ‘deaf or hard of hearing’.

YANBU. I don't have hearing problems but I find a lot of shows mumble, or the background music too loud etc (ok, I sound old). I'm surprised how many shows don't have subtitles, or have really really poor ones, like Sky News.

Also very few airline films are captioned. Long flights can get incredibly boring.

Amazon Prime. Whole series of Girls with no subtitles. Netflix is better but still not great

Someone else’s soapbox

Really annoyed to have moved to Sky and found loads of catch up (little used ones like iPlayer!) don't have subtitles, although recorded do. Virgin was a lot better for this.

faithinsound, wouldn't it be a bit sad if people only supported issues which affected them directly?

I have a hearing impairment, completely deaf in one ear and not great in the other. I find it really annoying when I look forward to watching something then find I can't.

I'm very happy for others to get on their 'soapbox' about this issue.

I contacted Sky about this, their response makes me think it isn't going to change soon.

I've just started as a trainee subtitler.

So...I'm on it

But seriously, from what little I've learned so far, access services is a growing field and you can expect closed captions to become much more prevalent.

I complained to sky when renewing as i was going to cancel and i only pay £13 a month as i cant access on demand stuff due to lack of subtitles. But they didnt seem apologetic or say it will get better. You can download tv shows/movies easily with subtitle file to match so no reason why for on demand they cant upload subtitle file. For live channels i understand subtitles will be delayed.

One tends to find that the sheer numbers of people who merely want a thing can tip the balance to benefit those who need a thing. Look at the new prevalence of gluten-free products in shops and cafés.

Fwiw I have complained more than once to MNHQ about their new fondness for video content which they don't subtitle. Not accessible. Don't leave us behind.

There are websites that try and supply subtitles - sort of open source subtitles.

www.opensubtitles.org/en/

Which might be a starting point.

You'd need to play the video+subtitle file through a media player which can handle them (some smart TVs can too) which means you need to have the video file too.

Chez nous, we have a slightly different problem - DWs vision isn't brilliant, so she'd much rather hear the subtitles (for a foreign program) than read them.

The fact there's no media player that can perform text-to-speech on subtitled media as a standard feature speaks volumes .

Fwiw I have complained more than once to MNHQ about their new fondness for video content which they don't subtitle. Not accessible. Don't leave us behind.

Generally provision for the less able has become worse in the past 10 years. Although at least there's a refreshing honesty when you get replies saying that people couldn't give a toss about disabilities. Better than mealy mouthed meaningless platitudes.

"Sky and virgin media for their on demand services is awful"

I agree. I have developed a hearing problem and can't watch everything that I used to. If I turn the volume up, words seemed more mumbled.

I don't know how this is got away with, under the Equality Act, tbh.

I agree about the lack of dubbing as well. A lot of Anime, is shown with subtitles, but people with LDs can't keep up. My DD is gutted that she can't watch some of Guillermo del Toro's work.

Actually, lots of groups of people can't keep up with Subtitles, when a film isn't dubbed.

I'm hard of hearing. I agree with TheCatswhiskers

CharDee ... that's fab!

30%? Not a chance. More like 80%