Closed-captioning and cable TV.

November 26, 2007 8:28 AM

The FCC seems to indicate that broadcasters are required to include closed captioning, at least for new programming, but I have purchased several very recent movies on cable that lack closed captioning. How are the cable companies getting around these requirements? Why is closed captioning so inconsistent?

If I rent a recent movie (last 10 years) from the local video store, it will almost always be closed-captioned. If I watch it on regular cable TV, there is a very good chance it will be captioned. If I PAY for it on cable TV (Comcast's On Demand service), it's a total crapshoot. What the heck? Lack of captioning makes the movie essentially worthless to me (I am hearing-impaired).

posted by desjardins to media & arts (3 comments total)

For the very simple reason that cable is not 'broadcasted,' and the FCC doesn't regulate it.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:31 AM on November 26, 2007

...and since I didn't read the link, I may be completely wrong about that. My bad.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:42 AM on November 26, 2007

"Cable video-on-demand services are considered channels by the FCC, yet they have a spotty track record on captioning. A Comcast representative said its VOD offerings are exempt from FCC requirements, citing the four-year exemption for new channels."

From:

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/06/closed_captioning_excluded_dig.php

In other words, more Comcast bullshit.
posted by aerotive at 9:12 AM on November 26, 2007