This presentation discusses measuring subtitle quality and regulation. It argues that measuring accuracy, reading speed, and synchronization makes sense but focusing only on metrics ignores viewer comprehension. Different countries have different subtitle rules but all agree captions should be accurate and synchronized. Live subtitles are prone to errors so should be a last resort. As a regulator, it is better to focus on ensuring quality standards rather than punishing one-off errors, and ensuring the market supports high quality captions for viewers.
9. Everybody agrees on some rules
Subtitles should be accurate
Non-live subtitles should be
synchronised
Subtitles must not cover on-screen
information
14. If you make everything
measurable then people
focus only on the metrics
15. In Australia quality will be measured by:
• Readability
• Synchronisation
• Accuracy
The key outcome is can the viewer
comprehend the program?
16. In Australia we recognise that:
Live subtitling is where all of the errors and
problems usually occur
So live subtitles should be a last resort,
Even for “Live” programs
19. These all impact on quality of live subtitles
Market
Training
pricing
Preparation
Regulation
time
Complexity
of output
20. As a regulator it is better to focus on:
• Do viewers know what to expect?
• Are quality errors repeated?
• Is every supplier doing the same thing?
• Are you acting consistently?
• Do you work with suppliers to fix issues?
• Is the market working?