Subtitles

What Are Subtitles?

Subtitles are text displayed on a television screen, video player, or digital display to represent the spoken dialogue or other relevant audio elements of a video. Subtitles are primarily intended for viewers who can hear the audio but may not understand the spoken language, often serving as a translation.

In digital and streaming workflows, subtitles are typically delivered as separate files or embedded data alongside the video stream and can be toggled on or off by the viewer.

Subtitles display the spoken words of characters or narrators as text on screen. They are commonly used in international content distribution to translate dialogue for viewers who speak a different language than the one used in the original audio track.

Unlike closed captions, which include both dialogue and non-speech elements like sound effects or speaker identification, subtitles usually focus only on translating spoken language.

How Are Subtitles Delivered?

Subtitles can be delivered in several ways, depending on the platform, format, and intended use case:

• Sidecar files: These are separate files that accompany the video file, such as .srt (SubRip), .vtt (WebVTT), or .scc (Scenarist Closed Captions). They are commonly used in streaming workflows for flexibility and localization.
• Embedded subtitles: Subtitles can be encoded directly into the video stream, often using CEA-608 or CEA-708 standards for compatibility with broadcast and IP-based systems.
• Burnt-in subtitles: These are permanently displayed on screen because the text is rendered directly into the video image. Burnt-in subtitles cannot be turned off and are typically used when translation is mandatory or when player support for dynamic subtitle display is limited.

Streaming platforms, including FAST channels, often support multiple subtitle formats to ensure accessibility and compliance across global audiences.

Subtitles vs. Closed Captions

While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, subtitles and closed captions serve different functions:

• Subtitles: Intended for viewers who can hear but may need language translation.
• Closed Captions: Designed for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing and include audio cues, speaker labels, and non-verbal sound descriptions.

Understanding this distinction is important in content localization, accessibility compliance, and user experience optimization.

Role in Streaming and International Distribution

Subtitles are a key component of global content strategies. They enable publishers to distribute video to multilingual audiences without requiring full dubbing or re-recording. They also support regulatory requirements for accessibility in various markets.

For streaming platforms and content owners, subtitles enhance discoverability, improve viewer engagement, and support broader reach—especially in ad-supported environments where higher engagement can lead to increased monetization opportunities.