How to get subtitles on analogue television

To get subtitles on analogue television, you need a 'teletext' television. However, subtitles are not automatically displayed. To display them, you have to press the teletext function button on your remote control and key in the numbers 8-8-8. Some remote controls have a direct subtitle button.

You can buy or rent a teletext television. If you do not have a teletext television you could buy a Telemole teletext adaptor, which enables any 'non-teletext' ordinary television to display subtitles.

The Telemole can display page 888 teletext subtitles only. It does not display Teletext or Ceefax (see below), which also give television listings and other information. It can also display closed captions from pre-recorded video tapes (see Subtitles and pre-recorded video tapes).

'Teletext' is the general name given to the service that provides subtitles on analogue television. Teletext is available on ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. On BBC1 and BBC2, this service is called Ceefax. Teletext used to be called 'Oracle'.

You can get the Telemole from Connevans Ltd (see Further information for contact details).

Subtitles on analogue widescreen televisions

Subtitles may be distorted or disappear when the picture is broadcast in widescreen mode on some analogue widescreen televisions. Before you buy or rent an analogue widescreen television, check with your retailer that the model you want displays subtitles properly.

How to record subtitles on analogue television

A few video recorders used to be available to record subtitles on analogue television. Unfortunately, these have now been discontinued. Now, the only way to record subtitles on analogue television is to use the Telemole teletext adaptor. It lets you record teletext subtitles using any video recorder connected to it. It can also decode closed captions on pre-recorded video tapes (see Subtitles on pre-recorded video tapes).

The Telemole has a 'Timer' facility that can be programmed to record programmes from five different channels. Together with the Timer on your video recorder, this allows you to make recordings of your favourite programmes with subtitles even if you are not there.

If your video recorder has VideoPlus or Programme Delivery Control (PDC), you can use these features together with the Timer facility on the Telemole. VideoPlus makes it easier to programme the video when you are not there. All you need to do is key in codes - listed in most television guides - for the programmes you want to watch. PDC is a feature that automatically adjusts the recording time if the programme is delayed.

Problems receiving subtitles

If you live in an area with poor television reception, or your television aerial is not correctly installed, subtitles may appear mixed up or with words missing. In this case, it is best to contact your television retailer.

If the subtitles you get are normal, but disappear altogether during a programme, this is usually due to a problem with the broadcaster. Not all programmes have subtitles, so first make sure that the programme you are watching is supposed to have them. You can check by looking at television guides that give details about subtitles. Make a note of the television channel, time and programme title during which the subtitles disappeared and contact the relevant channel.

You can take your complaint further about commercial television - not BBC1 or BBC2 - by getting in touch with the Independent Television Commission (ITC). ITC licenses and regulates all commercial television in the UK. It sets and maintains standards for programmes, advertising and technical quality. See Further information for all contact details.

Part two

Subtitles on digital television

If you want to get subtitles on digital television, you will first need to receive digital television.

How to receive digital television

You can receive digital television in three ways:

• Digital terrestrial television. This means you get digital television through your existing roof-top television aerial. Digital terrestrial television is currently available to 80% of the population. Your television retailer can tell if your area is covered.
• Digital satellite television. This means you get digital television through a digital satellite dish or mini-dish. Sky Digital is available throughout the whole of the UK.
• Cable television. This means getting digital television through cable. Cable is available in some parts of the country only.
  The television channels and interactive services - such as home shopping, home banking, e-mail and internet access - you get will depend on whether you choose digital terrestrial, satellite or cable.

Equipment for digital television

The good news is that you do not have to buy or rent a new television to receive digital television. You can watch digital television - terrestrial, satellite or cable - on your existing television, but you will need a set-top 'decoder' box. A set-top box allows you to watch the digital channels on your existing analogue television.

• If you want to receive digital terrestrial television, you need a digital terrestrial set-top box.
• If you want to watch digital television via satellite you will need a digital satellite set-top box, otherwise known as a 'Sky digibox'. You can get a Sky digibox free by subscribing to Sky Digital (see later, Digital satellite television and Sky Digital). You cannot use a terrestrial set-top box to watch digital satellite television or vice-versa
• Cable television is slightly different. To get cable, you need to sign up to your local cable television company who will provide a cable set-top box as part of your subscription package (see later, Cable television).

Integrated digital television

You can also buy a 'digital' television, sometimes called an integrated digital television or an idTV. At present, a Widescreen idTV costs between £500 and £1,000. If you are thinking about getting a new idTV now, it is probably best to rent rather than buy one. Remember that it can be confusing to buy televisions that are advertised as digital. Even those that have digital parts - but cannot receive digital channels - are sometimes described as digital. To avoid confusion, look out for the sign. All televisions that can receive digital channels should have this sign on them.

You get free channels on an idTV or upgrade to receive subscription channels, which you have to pay for.

Most idTVs have a built-in terrestrial set-top box and can receive only digital terrestrial television. To get satellite or cable, you will still need a separate satellite or cable set-top box.

Digital terrestrial television

Recently, the licence for running digital terrestrial television was awarded to the BBC and other partners. ITV Digital ran the service until it went into administration.

The new service will include a total of 24 free-to-view channels, including three from satellite broadcaster, Sky. Some channels will not be available until the autumn though no fixed date has been announced. The service will also include interactive services and a selection of digital radio stations. At present, there are no plans to offer subscription channels though this may be given consideration in the longer term.

As part of the licence, the BBC is under obligation to improve coverage and picture quality.

Subscribers to ITV Digital will be able to continue to receive the free-to-view channels and the additional new ones on their set-top boxes. New subscribers will have to pay for a set-top box. Below, we tell you more about how to get digital terrestrial television.

You have two options to getting digital terrestrial television - you can either get a set-top decoder box or an idTV (see Integrated digital television).

Set-top decoder box option

A set-top box that provides access to the free channels will cost between £100 and £150. It will let you watch the 'digital versions' of BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and additional free channels such as BBC Choice, BBC News 24, BBC 4, BBC Parliament and ITV 2.

Digital terrestrial television is the only service you can install yourself. The set-top box needs to be plugged into your television and roof-top aerial. Most people have an aerial outlet socket in the wall near the skirting board. Just plug in your set-top box into the mains electricity supply, switch it on and follow the on-screen set-up instructions that will appear on your television.

Many retailers offer an installation service if you do not want to install digital terrestrial television yourself.

idTV option

If you buy or rent an idTV, you will be able to get BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and additional free channels.

Digital satellite television and Sky Digital

Sky Digital is the subscription part of digital satellite television. To get Sky Digital you need a digital satellite dish and a Sky digibox (see Equipment for digital television). It is difficult to install these yourself because the satellite dish has to be in exactly the right position to pick up the television signal. You will have to pay between £50 and £100 for installation of equipment.

You can receive 40 free-to-view channels without subscribing to Sky Digital, but you will need to buy or rent a satellite mini-dish and digital satellite set-top box. You will also need to pay for the installation of the dish.

Cable television

To get digital television through cable, you need to subscribe to the cable company in your area. You can get details of your local cable company from the Yellow Pages though the main providers of cable are NTL and Telewest. When you subscribe, a cable set-top box is provided as part of your subscription package. You cannot buy a cable set-top box in shops. Installation of cable may be included as part of your subscription package or you may have to pay extra for it.

How to get subtitles on digital television

Subtitles on digital television are sometimes called digital subtitles or DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) subtitles. Unlike subtitles on analogue television, they are not part of teletext. This means you get your subtitles in a different way - not through page 8-8-8 for subtitles. You can get subtitles in different ways, depending on whether you have terrestrial, satellite or cable television.

• Digital terrestrial television.
  To watch a programme with digital subtitles, first press the menu button on the remote control for your set-top decoder box. Follow the on-screen options until you reach the viewing preferences menu. You can select subtitles from here. If you have an idTV, you can get digital subtitles in the same way.
• Satellite or cable television.
  You can access the subtitles on satellite or cable television as part of the sub-menu in the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG).

Amount of subtitling on digital television

At present, only digital terrestrial television is legally required to provide subtitles. Last year the Government set new subtitling targets and within the next ten years, digital terrestrial channels must achieve a minimum of 80% subtitling on programmes.

Digital terrestrial television is also required to provide 5% signing on programmes.

The provision of subtitles on satellite and cable channels is currently variable and in many cases very poor. However, under proposed new communications legislation, digital cable and satellite television will also have to provide subtitling and signing. Like digital terrestrial television, the amount required will increase steadily over a number of years.

At present, BBC digital channels do not have to provide subtitling by law, however, the BBC is committed to subtitling 100% of its programmes by 2008.

How to record digital subtitles

You can record digital subtitles using any video recorder or DVD video recorder (see Subtitles on DVDs) hooked up to your set-top box or idTV. However, you can only record the channel you are watching with subtitles, if have opted for them to appear on the screen. The digital subtitles are recorded in 'open format' which means that they will always appear on your television screen when the tape or DVD is played back. You can swap video tapes and DVDs with relatives or friends and the subtitles will appear on their television when the tape is played back on their video recorder or DVD player.

If you subscribe to the Sky Plus digital satellite television service, you can record one digital channel while watching another. The reason for this is that with this service, you get a set-top decoder box that has a built-in video recorder. This stores programmes on to a built-in disk and so video tapes are not necessary.

Part three

Subtitles on Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs)

A DVD looks like a CD, but can store more information. The picture and sound quality on DVD is also better than on a video tape.

You need a DVD player to play a DVD and can choose from a range of models in high-street shops. They cost from £100 to more than £300. You can also play a DVD on your home computer that has a DVD drive.

You can play a CD on a DVD player, but you cannot play a DVD on a CD player.

Many films released on DVD have subtitles. You can check by looking at the back of the DVD box, where it should list what subtitles are available. The DVD player will display the subtitles on your television screen - you do not need any additional equipment such as a closed caption decoder (see earlier, How to get subtitles on analogue television).

Some DVD films have subtitles in two or three languages, including English. Subtitles specifically aimed at deaf and hard of hearing people are also available on some DVDs. These are more descriptive - they tell you if there is a particular noise or music playing - and so it is easier to follow the film you are watching.

When you play a DVD, an 'introduction' menu will usually appear on your television screen showing the title of the film. The menu will list different options, which you can select with the remote control for your DVD player. If you first select the 'play' or 'play movie' option from the menu, the film will start without subtitles. If subtitles are available, you need to select the 'subtitles' option first. A further menu may appear if the subtitles are available in more than one language. Once you have selected the subtitles you can then select the 'play' option and the film will play with subtitles. Some DVD players can be programmed for subtitles always to appear, usually in English.

Buying DVDs

In the UK, DVDs cost between £9.99 and £20 each. Boxed sets can cost up to £50. You may think it is cheaper to buy them abroad, especially from the United States where you can choose from a wide selection. However, if you buy a DVD abroad, it may not be compatible with your DVD player at home or you may not be able to view the subtitles. This is because DVDs are encrypted - which means that they have special codes - so that those released and sold in one region cannot be played on DVD players in other regions:

• Region 1. The United States and Canada.
• Region 2. Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, Greece and Turkey. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Africa.
• Region 3. Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo and Indonesia.
• Region 4. Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America.
• Region 5. India, Africa, Russia and former USSR countries.
• Region 6. China.

A DVD player bought in the UK - region 2 - will probably not play a DVD bought in the United States, which is programmed for region 1.
Some shops in the UK sell multi-region DVD players. These should play DVDs from all regions. Check which regions are covered before buying one of these DVD players. You might still not be able to view the subtitles on a DVD bought in the United States. This is because many DVDs in the United States use the same closed captioning system as on pre-recorded video tapes (see Subtitles on pre-recorded video tapes). If you buy your DVDs from the United States, you will need a closed caption decoder that is compatible with the American television system.

In the future, you may not be able to use a multi-region DVD player to play DVDs you buy abroad because some DVD distributors may introduce more sophisticated encryption to prevent playback on multi-region DVD players. We suggest that you buy DVDs from the United Kingdom only.
 

Part four

Subtitles on pre-recorded video tapes

Many pre-recorded video tapes have subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing people. These are specially coded subtitles called 'closed-caption subtitles'.

To find out if the pre-recorded video tape you wish to rent or buy has closed-caption subtitles, make sure it has this symbol on the video storage box.

To display the subtitles on your television screen you will need a closed caption decoder, videocaption reader or video reader. These cost between £45 and £150. You may also come across the term 'Movietext™', which is a Hitachi trademark for a closed caption decoder. You cannot use any of this equipment to access teletext subtitles and you cannot access closed-caption subtitles using teletext.

Closed caption decoders are easy to install. They have cables that simply plug into your television and video recorder. Some video recorders have a closed caption decoder built into them. If you have one of these, you do not need a separate closed caption decoder.

People who do not have a closed caption decoder can watch the same video, but will not see the subtitles.

Part five

Background noise on television

Background music, audience laughter and clapping can make it difficult for deaf people to follow dialogue during a programme. Despite extensive research by ITC, a technological solution has not been found to reduce background noise of this type.

If you experience problems with background noise during a programme, get in touch with the relevant channel, giving details of the programme title, time and date of transmission when background noise is particularly problematic. This way, programme makers are at least aware of the problem.

Part six

Further information

To comment or complain about subtitles and background noise contact:
For BBC channels
For subtitles:
BBC Access Services, Room 430a, Design Building, Television Centre, Wood Lane, London W12 7RJ.
Tel: 020 8225 6521. Fax: 020 8752 7059.
E-mail: subtitling@bbc.co.uk

For background noise and enquiries related to BBC channels:
BBC information, PO Box 1922, Glasgow G2 3WT.
Tel: 0870 010 0222. Textphone: 0870 010 0212.
Website: www.bbc.co.uk/info

For Channel 4
Viewer Enquiries, Channel 4, 124 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2TX.
Tel: 020 7306 8333. Textphone: 020 7306 8691.
Fax: 020 7306 8347. E-mail: viewerenquiries@channel4.co.uk
Website: www.channel4.com

For Channel 5
Duty Office, Channel 5, 22 Long Acre, London WC2E 9LY.
Tel: 08457 050505. Textphone: 08457 413787. Fax: 020 7550 5678.
E-mail: dutyoffice@channel5.co.uk Website: www.channel5.co.uk

For ITV
There are 15 regional ITV companies. Contact the relevant regional company if you have a complaint. You can get contact details from:
RNID Information Line, 19-23 Featherstone Street,
London EC1Y 8SL.
Tel: 0808 808 0123. Textphone: 0808 808 9000.
Fax: 020 7296 8199.
E-mail: informationline@rnid.org.uk

Regulator for all commercial channels (not BBC1 or BBC2)
Independent Television Commission (ITC), Head Office,
33 Foley Street, London W1W 7TL.
Tel: 0845 601 3608. Textphone: 020 7306 7753.

To subscribe to digital television, contact:
BBC (for digital terrestrial)
You need a digital terrestrial set-top box to receive digital terrestrial television. If you do not already have a set-top box, you can buy it from your high-street electrical shop. Before you buy a set-top box, make sure you can receive the signal for digital terrestrial in your area. For general information about the different channels on digital terrestrial television and to find out if you can get digital terrestrial in your area, contact BBC information (for contact details, see before, Further information).

If you are a textphone user, you will need use BT TextDirect to contact NTL Home, Sky Digital and Telewest.

NTL Home (for digital cable)
NTL Home, NTL House, Bartley Wood Business Park, Bartley Way,
Hook, RG27 9XA.
Tel: 0800 052 0108.
Website: www.ntlhome.com

Sky Digital (for digital satellite)
Sky Digital, British Sky Broadcasting 6 Centaurs, Business Park,
Grant Way, Isleworth TW7 5QD.
Tel: 08702 40 40 40.
Website: www.sky.com/skydigital

Telewest (for digital cable)
Telewest, Unit 1, Genesis Business Park, Albert Drive, Woking GU21 5RW. Tel: 0800 953 5383.
Website: www.telewest.co.uk

Suppliers:
Choices Direct
Choices Direct is a mail order company that sells a range of videos and DVDs released in the UK. It also sells videos with closed-caption subtitles.
Choices Direct, 19-24 Manasty Road, Orton Southgate,
Peterborough PE2 6UP.
Tel: 01733 232800. Fax: 01733 230618.
E-mail: orders@choicesdirect.co.uk
Website: www.choicesdirect.co.uk

Connevans Ltd
Connevans supplies a range of equipment for deaf people.
Connevans, 54 Albert Road North, Reigate, RH2 9YR.
Tel: 01737 247571. Textphone: 01737 243134. Fax: 01737 223475.
E-mail: info@connevans.com Website: www.connevans.com

National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS)
NDCS provides information, advice and support to parents of deaf children, young deaf people and their families. The NDCS has produced a publication, TALKing Pictures, which gives information about subtitling, including subtitles in cinemas. To get a copy, contact NDCS.
NDCS, 15 Dufferin Street, London EC1Y 8UR.
Tel: 0808 800 8880. Textphone: 0808 800 8880.
(Mon-Fri 10am to 5pm)
Fax: 020 7251 5020.
E-mail: helpline@ndcs.org.uk Website: www.ndcs.org.uk

National Subtitling Library for Deaf People (NSLDP)
The NSLDP provides deaf and hard of hearing people with access to subtitled recreational and educational video tapes. It runs a number of services including 'Post Script', a postal video tape hiring service. Membership is open to anyone with hearing loss for a one-off registration fee of £5. It then costs £3.50 to hire a video tape for up to 12 days, including postage both ways. You can choose from 500 video tapes including new and classic films, television shows and general interest titles.
National Subtitling Library for Deaf People, 3rd Floor, Victoria Mill, Andrew Street, Compstall, Stockport SK6 5HN.
Tel: 0161 449 9650. Textphone: 0161 449 9650.
Fax: 0161 449 9650.
E-mail: members@nsldp.freeserve.co.uk
Website: www.videoword.org

Buying equipment

You can get up-to-date information about some of the products covered in this factsheet by visiting RNID's website www.rnid.org.uk/equipment and looking at our database of equipment. You will find details of products, manufacturers, suppliers and costs. If you do not have access to the Internet you can contact RNID's Information Line (details below) for the same information. You will need to say that you don't have access to the Internet and ask for a printout from the equipment database.