Subtitles breakdowns

royeee · 26-12-2010, 23:09

I'm watching the Ashes right now and the subtitles are missing. As Sky has been transmitting with subtitles on other nights right through I would think its unlikely they would miss one night. As there have been breakdowns in subtitles transmission through VM recently for Sky Sports channels there is a possibility this is happening again.

The problem is that it is virtually impossible to get through to Faults to ask them to check this out, they would just check their TV, look at whatever updates and if its not there they insist the broadcasters are not carrying it. There really need to be a route to get through to the relevant technical team (24*7) who is clued up on subtitles issues so this can be checked out to see if its Sky or VM.

royeee · 27-12-2010, 10:14

The subtitles are working on SS1 this morning. Either its VM or Sky has a strange way of allocating subtitling resources. The issue of trying to get thru to the relevant (knowledgeable) team at any time prevails.

Stuart · 27-12-2010, 13:27

I suspect Sky provide the subtitles to VM, already embedded as part of the their transmission.

Digital Fanatic · 27-12-2010, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by royeee

The subtitles are working on SS1 this morning. Either its VM or Sky has a strange way of allocating subtitling resources. The issue of trying to get thru to the relevant (knowledgeable) team at any time prevails.

Let us know if subs are missing again. I suspect it's a Sky issue, but we can check here.

royeee · 27-12-2010, 17:20

Someone advised me to look at http://accessibility.sky.com/whats-on-tv but it listed very few programmes and doesn't tie up with what is seen. A few programmes where subtitled today which were not listed. This makes it difficult to know there is a fault or not broadcasted.

29-12-2010, 09:34

They're useless. Friends on 4 HD had no subtitles whereas on 4 they did. Why not? Stupid stuff.

Digital Fanatic · 29-12-2010, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameseh

They're useless. Friends on 4 HD had no subtitles whereas on 4 they did. Why not? Stupid stuff.

Who's useless? Channel4?

As far as I'm aware the Channel4 HD channels don't currently carry subtitling.

Stuart · 29-12-2010, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameseh

They're useless. Friends on 4 HD had no subtitles whereas on 4 they did. Why not? Stupid stuff.

Seeing as Friends was not filmed in HD, the logical answer would be to watch it on Channel 4, would it not?

royeee · 29-12-2010, 18:35

It isn't about whether its filmed in HD, its about subtitles. If showed with subtitles on C4 then why not on C4 HD?

Peter_ · 29-12-2010, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by royeee

It isn't about whether its filmed in HD, its about subtitles. If showed with subtitles on C4 then why not on C4 HD?

It maybe to do with the slight delay that is apparent on all HD channels as the Red Button tends not to be available on any HD channel as you cannot vote via the Red button on programmes such as the X Factor you have to go to the normal channel.

Digital Fanatic · 29-12-2010, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by royeee

It isn't about whether its filmed in HD, its about subtitles. If showed with subtitles on C4 then why not on C4 HD?

You can't just stick subtitles on to a HD channel. They have to encoded at source, this is a problem for most broadcasters.

So it's a technical issue rather than "can't be bothered"