Closed captioning on Netflix?

[mrudman]

I'm trying out Netflix for the first time.. signed up for a free month..

But is it possible to get closed captioning on all the movies/shows? I'm somewhat hearing-impaired, and makes it much more enjoyable to watch TV if I can read along instead of straining to hear (or having the tv blare, lol)

I've tried to figure out how, and can't see anywhere where it has an option for it? FWIW, we're using an internet-ready Blue-Ray player to stream in all the shows.

I've set our TV remote to have CC, which it does show when we're watching our U-Verse, but nothing ever shows on Netflix.

Any ideas?

 

[herdtoDisney]

I have some hearing loss, also, and while Netflix DVD's are nearly always captioned, my understanding is that the streaming Netflix is not I think this is wrong on their part and illegal, but they get waivers from the FCC somehow.

 

[Mom21]

Here is what Netflix says about cc:

Foreign-language movies streamed to your PC, Mac, or TV have subtitles “burned in” to the video (“open captions”). However, we do not currently provide closed captions or subtitles for English language movies when streamed, although you can find them on most of our DVDs.
The technologies we use for streaming do not yet adequately support closed captions, and most viewers object to permanently visible open captions, which they cannot turn off, burned into the video stream for English-language content. We are working on delivering closed captions or optional subtitles in a future technology update, probably first for PCs and Macs, probably sometime in 2010, and later for various TV-connected devices as new firmware can be created and the devices updated.

Editing to add: I guess it isn't illegal since the technology isn't available.

 

[Noah]

Hi, I oftentimes watch netflix streaming video hoping to watch foreign films in their native language with subtitles. In my experience, a lot of times, the audio track is already in English and there is no subtitle. Sometimes, there are subtitles.

It probably depends on how the original movie was created. Anyway, if I were you and you still want to go for the streaming video, choose a lot of foreign films for the queue. You will have more chances for subtitles.

And yes, streaming videos are wonderful.

 

[mrudman]

Thanks for the answers! Disappointing to hear, lol, but thanks,

 

[herdtoDisney]

I don't watch or enjoy movies much, but my understanding is, you can get captioned streaming on Hulu. I don't know how it works, but I've read others talk about it.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm trying out Netflix for the first time.. signed up for a free month..

But is it possible to get closed captioning on all the movies/shows? I'm somewhat hearing-impaired, and makes it much more enjoyable to watch TV if I can read along instead of straining to hear (or having the tv blare, lol)

I've tried to figure out how, and can't see anywhere where it has an option for it? FWIW, we're using an internet-ready Blue-Ray player to stream in all the shows.

I've set our TV remote to have CC, which it does show when we're watching our U-Verse, but nothing ever shows on Netflix.

Any ideas?

If you mean on the DVDs, you have to set it from the DVD menu (or if your tv remote has the 'subtitle' button you can use that to switch between the different audio tracks).

On the streaming ones, I don't know.

 

[NotUrsula]

I don't watch or enjoy movies much, but my understanding is, you can get captioned streaming on Hulu. I don't know how it works, but I've read others talk about it.

Yes, Hulu is close-captioned. It works quite decently.

Fox network's captioning also works quite well.

CBS does not caption streamed video.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I am also hearing impaired and use CC. Unfortunately with Netflix and the Amazon movies you can get streamed through Tivo are not captioned at all. I've emailed several times to both over the past few years and keep getting the same answer that it is not there now but hopefully soon! Not holding my breath anymore!

I generally either watch the DVD's or I get movies streamed through our cable's On Demand feature. I have had CC for all those except when trying to get HD shows On Demand from Showtime. Not sure what problem Showtime has with CC but I also have a very hard time getting the CC to work on the DVD's for Dexter which is a Showtime show.

 

[bicker]

(Also posted this on the DISabilities Community Board.)

The following list might help Netflix subscribers, with a hearing-impaired member in their family, enjoy Netflix streaming this holiday season. It's a list of recent films (released over the last ten years or so) that Netflix is reportedly providing with open English subtitles. (Netflix provide subtitles for other streaming titles, though a very small number, but even for those, the Netflix software only supports the provision of subtitles on some types of equipment - but none of the equipment we have Netflix software on. These Netflix streaming titles have open captions, which means subtitles wiill be visible on all Netflix streaming platforms.)

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Amelie/60022048
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Departures/70114013
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Experiment/60024958
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/He_Loves_Me,_He_Loves_Me_Not/60026127
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/La-Vie-en-Rose/70068655
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo/70116686
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Girl-Who-Played-with-Fire/70132756
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Last_Train/70142127
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Let-the-Right-One-In/70099621
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Priceless/70090333
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Red-Cliff-Theatrical-Version/70130851
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Shiri/60022610
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Sophie_Scholl:_The_Final_Days/70045696
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Stoning_of_Soraya_M./70108800
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/A-Very-Long-Engagement/70012795
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/What_to_Do_in_Case_of_Fire/60025070

These are (of course) all foreign films.

 

[sam_gordon]

I have some hearing loss, also, and while Netflix DVD's are nearly always captioned, my understanding is that the streaming Netflix is not I think this is wrong on their part and illegal, but they get waivers from the FCC somehow.

I'm pretty sure Netflix doesn't fall under the FCC's guidelines. Therefore it's not illegal and they don't need waivers. As far as the wrongness... I don't have an answer.

 

[bicker]

The scope of the FCC regulation does not including online distribution of video.

The scope of the Americans with Disability Act (the law) does. The ADA prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in public accommodations or commercial facilities.

Operationally, what does that mean? It means that the regulations that are put in place to enforce the law have fallen woefully behind technology, and as a result folks like Netflix are essentially exploiting a loop-hole that they've opened up, at the expense of a protected class in our society.

So basically what they're doing now is not a violation of a regulation, but it is clearly not how the law said things should be.

 

[JCMHutch]

I'm trying out Netflix for the first time.. signed up for a free month..

But is it possible to get closed captioning on all the movies/shows? I'm somewhat hearing-impaired, and makes it much more enjoyable to watch TV if I can read along instead of straining to hear (or having the tv blare, lol)

DH loves to watch movies streamed from Netflix. He also watches the tv very loudly (to the point where I don't always watch movies with him because I get a headache!). We were at the Brookstone outlet and found a pair of wireless headphones for $10 (they are $50 at the regular Brookstone store). DH bought a pair and uses them when he watches movies now. He says that they are very comfy and he can keep the volume where he wants it.