Closed Captioning refers to the practice of displaying on a screen synchronized text that describes and/or transcribes the audio portion of the media. Unlike open captions, which are burned onto the video, closed captions are only visible when a viewer activates them through a decoder.

Millions of hearing impaired Americans depend on captions for news and entertainment, but the benefits of captioning extend far beyond. Captions are also widely used in public places where noise or other distractions make them a welcome addition. Health clubs, restaurants, bars and airports all make use of captions, allowing people to stay plugged in while they are socializing, working out, or waiting for their flight to be announced.

Our transcribers are real human beings. Voice recognition and automation do not offer the level of accuracy that is required for captioning of video content. Read more here.

Creating captions may sound easy, but there are many reasons producers choose to outsource to us: expensive captioning software and equipment, the transcription hurdle, the steep learning curve, and compliance issues with FCC standards.

With only a few exceptions, all programming for broadcast in the United States must be closed captioned. TV programming delivered over IP, like web pages, mobile phone apps, Roku, iTunes, and Netflix is also required to have closed captions. Additionally, videos that are produced for government agencies are required to be captioned under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. When it comes to media, accessibility is in high demand. Don’t write off captioning as an unnecessary luxury. For more information, visit FCC’s Closed Captioning on Television Guide.

Sometimes closed captions and subtitles are easily confused because they have many similarities. Closed captions are encoded into a video signal and a decoder is required to view them; subtitles, however, are displayed without the need of a decoder. Subtitles are sometimes displayed always-on or in devices such as DVD, Blu-ray, or various web players they can be turned on/off.

Closed captions are always formatted for deaf and hard of hearing audiences, and include speaker identification and descriptions for non-verbal sounds. Subtitles are commonly formatted for either SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing) or speakers of other languages. Because DVDs can accommodate many language options, sometimes both SDH and ESL subtitles are available in the same language. Additionally, pop-on closed captions have the ability to be positioned anywhere on the screen. This is very helpful for identifying speakers or to avoid covering graphics; most subtitles however, are limited in their screen positioning.​

Roll-up captions scroll up two to three lines at a time. The top line disappears as a new bottom line appears in sync with the audio. They can be placed at the top, bottom, or about one-third from the bottom of the screen.

Pop-on captions appear and disappear in sync with the audio in blocks of 1-3 lines. The captions can be placed almost anywhere on the screen to avoid covering graphics and faces, and to identify speakers.

Pre-recorded programs allow sufficient time for offline captioning, ensuring that the captions are accurate, complete and synchronous. The FCC has recognized that online captions are not suitable for a regular captioning strategy for pre-recorded programs, and should only be used, with discretion, in extreme circumstances.

Captioning complaints can be filed with the video program distributor (VPD), which is typically the TV station or cable company. The FCC provides a registry that can be used to find your VPD contact. Complaints can also be submitted to the FCC, either online, by fax [1-866-418-0232], or by writing to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554

Yes. Production notes are helpful, too! We will comb through your script and format it to industry standards before creating captions.

Our offline captions go through rigorous human reviews and quality checks. We offer various quality levels from near perfect to 100% perfect captions. Our standard offline accuracy is better than 99%, and to ensure the best possible result, we give our clients the option of receiving a review document prior to project completion.