About this factsheet

This factsheet is part of RNID’s equipment range. You will find it useful if you are deaf and want to know how to get subtitles on television, DVDs and pre-recorded videotapes. We use the term ‘deaf’ throughout to refer to all types of hearing loss.

Read this factsheet to find out:

How much television is subtitled?

Most television programmes are subtitled. By the end of 2008:

• BBC1 and BBC2 subtitled over 99% of their programmes
• ITV1 subtitled over 95% of its programmes
• Channel 4 subtitled over 90% of its programmes
• Channel 5 subtitled over 81% of its programmes
• S4C subtitled over 86% of its programmes.

More than 90 cable and satellite channels also provide some degree of subtitling on their programming. For a list of these channels see:
www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/guidance/tv_access_serv (external link, opens new browser window).

BBC Parliament is also increasing its subtitling. The 2003 Communication Act has set a legal framework for subtitling requirements and the regulator Ofcom stipulates what each channel must do. For example, ITV1 and Channel 4 must subtitle 90% of programmes by 2010.

How is television changing?

Digital television is replacing the existing analogue system in the UK. The Digital Switchover will mean:

• more TV channels
• better picture quality
• better sound quality
• High Definition TV (HDTV) on some channels
• additional features such as faster Teletext and interactive services
• clearer subtitles
• easier access to subtitles.

Digital television is already available in most areas of the UK through Freeview, Sky, BBC/ITV Freesat and cable services. Subtitles are available on all four services. You can probably get at least two of these digital TV services in your area. Which option you choose depends on availability and the TV channels you want to watch.

Digital Switchover

Analogue TV will be switched off region by region, so that by 2012 all areas in the UK will have switched off their analogue signals (2013 for the Channel Islands). To find out when this will happen in your area, contact your local television retailer or visit:
www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/ (external link, opens new browser window)

More information about digital TV and the digital switchover is also available at:
www.digitaluk.co.uk/ (external link, opens new browser window)
helpline: 08456 50 50 50
textphone number: 0845 234 0380.

Retailers will display a ‘digital tick’ sign on all equipment that will work during and after switchover – this sign (see below) means subtitles are available. Equipment that will have the digital tick sign includes TVs, set-top boxes, DVD recorders and Personal Video Recorders (PVRs).

Teletext subtitles on page 888 are still available on analogue until switch off. Switching to digital TV will mean receiving digital subtitles, and these are accessed differently from the analogue system.

Can I get help with switching to digital television?

Some people can get help through the Digital Switchover Help Scheme Limited (DSHS). You are eligible for the scheme if:

• you or your partner are aged 75 years old or over.
• you, your partner or a dependent child are registered as being blind or partially sighted.
• you, your partner or a dependent child is entitled to Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme and CAA and War Pensioners Mobility Supplement under the pre-2005 War Pensions Scheme.

If you are eligible for help you can apply for the scheme up to eight months before the switchover. DSHS will contact you around this time if you are eligible.

The scheme will provide practical support to help people select, install and use digital TV equipment. DSHS will provide eligible households with equipment to convert one set.

If you are eligible you will pay £40 for the basic equipment and help. However, it’s free if you are receiving Pension Credit, Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

For further information, contact Digital Switchover Help Scheme Ltd on:
Telephone: 0845 234 0388
Textphone: 0845 234 0380
www.helpscheme.co.uk/ (external link, opens new browser window)

How can I receive digital television?

Through a TV aerial

You can receive digital terrestrial television (called Freeview) through your rooftop aerial. Freeview offers more than 40 television and 30 radio channels (the number of channels may vary according to where you live). You can pay to receive further channels from Top Up TV. You can check if Freeview is available in your area at:
www.freeview.co.uk/home (external link, opens new browser window)

Equipment

You will need to buy a set-top box or a new digital television see What are the latest developments in television technology? to watch Freeview but there is no additional cost to receive the channels. Most set-top boxes and new digital televisions provide easy access to subtitles. For more information, http://www/ricability-digitaltv.org.uk (external link, opens new browser window)

Set-up

The set-top box plugs into the television and your existing TV aerial. Some set-top boxes can record Freeview channels as well as receive them. A box costs from £25, and boxes that record cost from around £50. Your equipment should come with clear set-up instructions. But, if you don’t want to install the set-top box yourself, ask your retailer, as they may install it for you. Most new television sets can receive Freeview – those that do will display the digital tick sign. See How is television changing?.

Through a satellite dish

Sky Digital has many more channels than Freeview – how many you can watch depends on your subscription package. Sky Digital is available in 98% of homes across the UK.

Freesat from BBC and ITV

This is a free satellite service from the BBC and ITV that offers some of the channels that are available on Freeview plus additional channels, some of which are in High Definition (HD). More information about Freesat is available at www.freesat.co.uk/ (external link, opens new browser window)

Equipment

A range of Freesat set-top boxes is now available most of which support subtitles.

Freesat from Sky

Freesat (also called free-to-view) is a non-subscription option from Sky. You just pay for the digibox, dish and installation. Visit www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/ (external link, opens new browser window) for further information.

What is a Sky box?

A Sky box is a set-top box combined with an advanced PVR (Personal Video Recorder). You can set this to record programmes, including the subtitles, automatically, using the Sky electronic programme guide (EPG), which appears on the TV screen when selected from the Sky remote control. The Sky box will also let you ‘pause’ and ‘rewind’ live television and record up to 20 hours of programmes on its built-in hard drive.

Equipment

Prices vary but include the cost of a small satellite dish that is fitted to a wall outside your home and the Sky digibox that plugs into the television.

Set-up

A Sky engineer will set up the service and installation is usually included in the cost.

Through a cable TV company

Contact a local cable TV company for details of their subscription packages. The main cable providers are: Virgin Media, WightCable (Isle of Wight), Smallworld (West of Scotland).

Equipment

You will need a cable set-top box to use with your existing television (this is normally supplied as part of the subscription package).

Set-up

The box plugs into the scart socket on your television. Your cable company will supply a box as part of a subscription package. You’ll find details of local cable TV operators in local directories such as Yellow Pages.

Virgin Media
PO Box 333, Matrix Court, Swansea SA7 9BB
Telephone: 0845 454 1111 (from a BT or other provider lines)
Freephone: 150 from Virgin Media landlines (cable customers only)
www.virginmedia.com/ (external link, opens new browser window)

WightCable (Isle of Wight)
56 Love Lane, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7EU
Freephone: 0800 785 1000
Telephone: 01983 295 050 Fax 01983 242 486
www.wightcable.com/ (external link, opens new browser window)

Smallworld Media
Provide cable services in Scotland, Lancaster, Morecombe and Carlisle.
3 Chalmers Place, Riverside Business Park, Irvine Ayrshire KA11 5DH
Telephone: 08000 70 60 50
www.smallworldmedia.com/ (external link, opens new browser window)

How do I get subtitles with Freeview?

You can get subtitles in two ways:

• press the ‘subtitles’ button (may also be shown as SUB – check the user manual) on your set-top box’s or integrated digital television’s (idTV) remote control (see What are the latest developments in television technology? or
• press the Menu button, then follow the on-screen options until you reach options for language and subtitles.

You should be able to choose whether subtitles come on automatically or come on only when you select them from the remote control.

How do I record subtitles from Freeview?

Make sure your set-top box or idTV is connected to a VHS video cassette recorder (VCR) or DVD recorder (via the scart connecting lead). Subtitles are recorded in open format. This means you cannot switch off the subtitles during playback.

How do I record subtitles when I’m not at home?

Most set-top boxes have a timer feature. This means you can program the set-top box to switch itself on, so you can record a programme while you are out. You will need to make sure that your VCR or DVD recorder is programmed to come on at the same time and is set to the AV channel that the set-top box is plugged into.

Freeview set-top boxes that can record

Many set-top boxes are combined with Digital Video Recorders (DVRs, Also known as PVRs – Personal Video Recorders). Instead of tapes, DVRs record onto a non-removable disk inside the player. Some are combined with DVD recorders. Prices range from £50 to £350, depending on the make and features it has, so it’s a good idea to shop around. Not all PVRs record subtitles. For more information on products that record subtitles, see www.ricabillity-digitaltv.org.uk/ (external link, opens new browser window)

One example is the Humax PVR 9200TB, which lets you record Freeview channels with subtitles. Subtitles are recorded in closed format, so when you play the recording back, you can choose whether or not to watch with subtitles. If you want to keep some programmes you’ve recorded, you can transfer them to a normal (VHS tape) video recorder or DVD recorder connected to the DVR through a scart lead.

Alternatively, there is the Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder. This also has a built in hard disk drive but it records in open format so it will record and play back with subtitles. Daewoo also manufacture a standard DVD recorder that allows you to record digital subtitles onto DVD discs.

Reception problems on Freeview

Sometimes, the picture may freeze or go into tiny blocks. You may need to replace your TV aerial with a new ‘wideband’ one to improve reception. Your television retailer or the Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) can put you in touch with a reputable television aerial installer. See What do I do if I’m having problems receiving subtitles? on page 9 for the CAI’s contact details.

For more information on Freeview services, contact:

Freeview
Freeview, DTV Services Ltd, Broadcast Centre, (BC3 D5), 201 Wood Lane,
London W12 7TP
Telephone: 08701 111 270
http://www.freeview.co.uk/ (external link, opens new browser window)

Top Up TV
PO Box 801, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY2 6WW
Telephone: 08712 712 712
Email: enquiries@topuptv.com
http://www.topuptv.com/ (external link, opens new browser window)

How do I get subtitles with Sky Digital (digital satellite television)?

To access subtitles on Sky:

• press the ‘services’ button on your Sky remote control
• choose option 4, ‘system set up’, and then
• option 3, ‘languages and subtitles’
• select ‘subtitles on’.

If you have a Sky box, you can record programmes with subtitles while watching another programme with subtitles at the same time.

Sky Digital
Telephone: 08702 404040
Email: skydigital@sky.com
http://www.sky.com/

Sky accessibility service team
Telephone: 08705 663333 Textphone: 08702 401910
Fax: 01383 815312
Email: accessibility@bskyb.com
www.sky.com/accessibility (external link, opens new browser window)

How do I get subtitles with cable television?

Subtitles are available on most cable services – contact your cable operator for more information.

How to access subtitles on Virgin Media cable TV

A number of channels offer digital (DVB) subtitles which can be activated by opening the Mini Guide and pressing the blue button, or through the main settings menu setting on the V set-top box. Please check with Virgin Media for details.

Most channels supply ‘Teletext’ subtitles. These are activated by pressing the text button on your TV remote control and entering 888. If you have V in an ex-NTL area, these channels will also have digital subtitles. If you are in an ex-Telewest area you will have previously received some of the channels with digital (DVB) subtitles. Please check with your Virgin Media provider.

What do I do if i'm having problems recieving subtitles?

Not all programmes have subtitles, so check your television guide first. If you have problems with poor reception on analogue or Freeview contact:

The Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI)
Fulton House Business Centre, Fulton Road, Wembley Park,
Middlesex HA9 0TF
Telephone: 020 8902 8998 Fax: 020 8903 8719
http://www.cai.org.uk/ (external link, opens new browser window)

If subtitles do not appear at all, or disappear during a programme, this is probably due to a temporary technical problem with the broadcaster, so make a note of the channel, time and programme and contact the relevant channel. You can take your complaint further by contacting Ofcom, the regulator for commercial television. Ofcom sets and maintains standards for programmes, advertising and technical quality. Ofcom does not regulate any of the BBC channels so you should take any complaints about these directly to the BBC.

Ofcom
Ofcom Contact Centre, Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road,
London SE1 9HA
Telephone: 0845 456 3000 or 020 7981 3040 Fax: 0845 456 3333
For more information, visit www.ofcom.org.uk, or to complain about subtitling to Ofcom, visit: www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/progs/subtitling (external link, opens new browser window)

BBC channels
BBC Information, PO BOX 1922, Glasgow, G2 3WT
Telephone: 0370 010 0222  Textphone: 0370 010 0212
Email: subtitling@bbc.co.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception
*calls from a BT line cost up to 6p per minute (some operators and mobiles vary) and may be recorded for training purposes.

ITV companies
For information about ITV programmes and details for each office, contact:

Viewers Services Gas Street, Birmingham B1 2JT
Telephone: 0844 88 14150 Fax: 0844 8814198
Monday-Friday: 8am-7pm, Saturday: 10am-7pm, Sunday: Closed.
Email: viewerservices@itv.com
http://www.itv.com/ (external link, opens new browser window)