After being sued by America’s National Association of the Deaf, the video streaming company Netflix have agreed to offer captions (which are called subtitles in the UK) on 100% of its TV and movie content in the USA within two years.
However, when we contacted the UK arm of the company, they told us that while they expect their provision to increase, they will not match the commitment the company have made in the USA. They also refused to give any specific targets for improving the level of captioning they provide in this country.
A representative of Netflix told us: “We are committed to providing an accessible service and you can expect that percentage to increase over time, though I can’t give any precise goals.”
At present, 82% of the content that American viewers watch has captions available, which will go up to 100% in September 2014. However, the number is much lower in the UK, at just 60%.
While television channels have a duty to provide a certain amount of their programming with subtitles, the same legal obligation does not exist online, which means that deaf viewers face a very different level of service on video streaming websites.
The Limping Chicken is supported by Deaf media company Remark!, provider of sign language services Deaf Umbrella, the Deaf training and consultancy Deafworks, the RAD Deaf Law Centre, and BID’s upcoming 5th anniversary performance by Ramesh Meyyappan on 12th October – don’t miss it!
Rob
October 15, 2012
Only one word here “TYPICAL”……
UK EA2010 is so pathetic….unenforceable…
Teresa Garratty
October 15, 2012
Oh man! Step it up Netflix UK! I wonder why the caption/subtitle content is different for different regions…Is it a licencing thing? Or are Netflix UK just lazy?
That said, I rate Netflix much higher than LoveFilm. Their lack off subtitles and understanding has been atrocious in the past.
60% is better than nothing but if the USA can have it higher, then why can’t we?!
barakta
October 15, 2012
Pathetic. Could one of the UK deaf organisations sue NetFlix/LoveFilm et al and get the same response?
The issue isn’t so much the Equality Act so much as needing to be used which means ability and willingness to lawyer up and keep on lawyering through the other side’s lawyering nonsense.
iheartsubtitles
October 24, 2012
What to do? Action on Hearing Loss and OFCOM currently have a survey open on subtitiling but it implies digital broadcast TV and not streamed content via the internet? https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Qualitysubtitlessurvey
Neil
November 7, 2012
Fine, is it possible to sue Netflix UK as well? Somebody with money and ball got to do it!
iheartsubtitles
November 8, 2012
Sadly not because there is no law covering streamed content and the availability of subtitles in the UK. There has been a meeting this month to discuss these issues last month that includes Action On Hearing Loss, AVOD and Ofcom. I’m looking forward to finding out the results/next steps. This is the most up to date article I could find on current status: http://www.atvod.co.uk/uploads/files/Access_Services_Plan_Edition_1.2_120912.pdf
neil
November 10, 2012
Really odd service between USA and UK Netflix, you can watch USA Netflix from here, just goggle. UK service like heroes season 4, most BBC shows like Dr who and also some films no subtitle but yet USA Netflix have English subtitle! That is just stupid! Meanwhile enjoying USA Netflix at the moment. Illegal I know but I have to break the law here so I can watch it with subtitle….lol!