What Is Closed Captioning and How Does it Work?

Social Media and streaming platforms have changed the way content creators have had to think about captions. Back in the day when a movie theatre was the easiest way to see a film, subtitles were rarely thought of. When DVDs became popularized, subtitles became more widespread as a way to get the film to reach as many audiences as possible. With the invention of streaming services (popularized by Netflix) and the rising audience on social media platforms, subtitles suddenly weren’t just optional...they became a necessity.

Most content nowadays is viewed on iPhone and Android devices. Captions became popular on social media platforms because of the ability to watch without any audio. In fact, most audiences on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram actually watch video content without any audio at all.

What is closed captioning?

Closed captioning is a type of text-based representation of audio content, typically used for television programs, movies, and other audio/visual media. It provides a written transcript of the audio portion of the content, including dialogue, sound effects, and other audio elements, which is displayed on the screen and synchronized with the audio.

They are designed to make audio content accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and they can also be used by viewers who are in noisy environments or who prefer to read rather than listen to the audio. They can also be used to translate the audio content into another language.

Closed captions can be added to a video during post-production using captioning services, AI transcription, or even types manually in Microsoft word programs depending on your workflow. They can even be created in real-time as the content is broadcast through live programming or live streaming via live captioning.

They can be displayed as an on-screen overlay or as a separate text file that can be accessed through a closed captioning decoder or through the settings on the viewer's device.

Closed captioning has become an important tool for making audio/visual content accessible and inclusive, and is often required by law in many countries.

The history of closed captions

The history of closed captioning dates back to the 1970s, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States first required that television broadcasters provide closed captions for a portion of their programming. This requirement was established to make television more accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. This step to include content for people who are hearing impaired allows live television and tv shows to be viewed and enjoyed by a wider range of people who have trouble with spoken words.

In the early years of closed captioning, captions were added to the television signal through TV providers using a separate data channel and could only be displayed with specialized decoder equipment. Over time, closed captioning technology evolved (to a device called a stenographer), and captions are now included in digital video files and can be displayed directly on the viewer's device or television set at the bottom of the screen during live broadcasts.

In the 1990s, the FCC expanded its closed captioning requirements to include all television programming (with help from the television decoder circuitry act and the Americans with disabilities act), and the technology used for closed captioning has continued to evolve, with the development of real-time captioning and automatic speech recognition (ASR) technologies.

Today, closed captioning is an important tool for making audio/visual content accessible and inclusive, and is required by law in many countries. It is used not only for television programming but also for a wide range of other audio/visual content, including movies, tv programming, video programming, online videos, and live events.

Closed captions are now getting used by those with perfectly good hearing as well. With the invention of smartphones, we can even watch movies outside of movie theaters. If you’re watching a video on your phone, there might be a ton of background noise depending on the environment you’re in. Closed captions allow you to watch content such as this in a noisy environment.

Why is closed captioning important?

• Accessibility: Closed captioning makes audio/visual content accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, allowing them to fully participate in and understand the content. Since most content is produced in English, it’s important to have subtitles available for those unfamiliar with the language as well.
• Inclusivity: Closed captioning helps create a more inclusive viewing experience, as it allows individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to access and enjoy audio/visual content alongside hearing individuals.
• Improved comprehension: Closed captioning can help improve comprehension for viewers who are in noisy environments or who prefer to read rather than listen to the audio.
• Improved literacy: Closed captioning can also help improve literacy skills, as it provides a written transcript of the audio content that can be used as a learning tool.
• Translation: Closed captioning can be used to translate the audio content into another language, making the content accessible to a wider audience.
• Compliance: In many countries, closed captioning is required by law and is an important aspect of ensuring that audio/visual content is accessible and inclusive.

Overall, closed captioning is a vital tool for making audio/visual content accessible and inclusive, and helps to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to fully participate in and enjoy audio/visual content.

What is the difference between closed and open captions?

Closed captions and open captions are two different methods of displaying text-based representations of audio content on a video or television program. The main difference between the two is how they are controlled and displayed by the viewer.

Closed captions are included as a separate data channel in the video or television signal and can be turned on or off by the viewer. The viewer can usually control the display of closed captions through their television or device settings.

Open captions, on the other hand, are always displayed on the screen and cannot be turned off. They are burned into the video or television signal and are a permanent part of the content.

The choice between closed and open captions often depends on the intended audience and the purpose of the captions. Closed captions are more flexible and provide more control to the viewer, while open captions are always visible and cannot be turned off.

Open captions are often used in situations where the captions are an integral part of the content, such as in news programs or educational videos. Closed captions are typically used in situations where accessibility is the primary concern, such as in television programs or movies.

Closed captions vs. subtitles

Closed captions and subtitles are similar in that they both provide written text that represents the audio of a video or film. However, there are some key differences between the two.

Closed captions are included as a separate data channel in the video or television signal and can be turned on or off by the viewer. The closed captions contain not only the dialogue and speech, but also other important audio information, such as sound effects and music.

Subtitles, on the other hand, only display the dialogue and speech and are intended for viewers who do not understand the language spoken in the video. Subtitles are usually displayed on the screen as a permanent part of the content and cannot be turned off.

The choice between closed captions and subtitles often depends on the intended audience and the purpose of the captions. Closed captions are more flexible and provide more information to the viewer, while subtitles are intended primarily for individuals who do not understand the language spoken in the video.

The best way to add closed captions to video

Adding closed captions to videos doesn’t have to be a chore. With Simon Says you can automatically caption your content directly in your preferred video editor. The software comes with extensions for Final Cut Pro, Da Vinci Resolve, and Adobe Premiere Pro.