FAQs on Broadcast STL, CAP, EBU-TT and SCC Closed Caption Format

Are you producing a TV show, documentary or film? Do you need to supply an SCC closed caption format file for broadcast channels but don’t know where to start? If so, this is the blog for you as we cover some of our frequently asked questions around creating broadcast closed captioning and TV subtitles.

What closed caption format do I need for my TV show?

The required closed caption formats tend to differ not only between broadcasters but also between regions. Typically within the UK, SCC Closed Caption format files and EBU-TT are the most requested formats, while US captions tend to be SCC or STL. Changing between formats is not always straightforward so it’s a good idea to check with your broadcaster if they have guidelines outlining what format they require and/or any styles they prefer in terms of display. 

At Capital Captions, we work with all broadcast closed caption formats at competitive prices.

My film is being distributed on TV and video on demand –
can I have a caption file for both?

Broadcast and video-on-demand services typically will use different caption formats. If your video will be distributed on both, we can offer services to convert between formats to cover all bases. The complexity of doing this will depend on the guidelines set out by the broadcaster and/or service provider.

For instance, if working with SCC Closed Caption formats for broadcast, character limits will be 32 as standard for CEA-708 captions, but STL format for online and broadcast can accept up to 47 characters. Similarly, there may be style differences in terms of caption placement, font, subtitle durations and sound description styles, e.g. capital letters, italics or within square brackets. When converting between formats, these are all things that should be considered.

At Capital Captions, we can convert subtitle files between formats and QC caption files to fit differing guidelines at a discount price.

What is the cost for captioning my programme?

Closed captioning rates can vary widely across the industry so it’s worthwhile shopping around before settling on a closed captioning company. Prices are typically calculated on a per video minute basis, though in a few instances, companies may work to per word rates.

At Capital Captions, English captioning services for broadcast start and are typically charged at £6.00 per video minute.

I need to provide different versions of my video with different frame rates.

Can broadcast captions be provided to match these?

There are two different types of closed caption formats; those based on frame rates and those based on time. For time based online formats, such as SRT, frame rate changes to video should not be an issue, but most broadcast caption files are frame based. A common request from broadcasters is to supply caption files in multiple frame rates, which is a good idea since some caption formats are designed for use with a specific frame rate.

SCC closed captions, for instance, are designed to be used for video of 29.97( Non Drop )fps while STL work best with 23.98 or 25fps. At Capital Captions, we can happily convert caption and subtitle frame rates to ensure your captions don’t slip out of sync and remain accurately timed, no matter what your distribution frame rate. 

If you are after a quick quote for any of our services, you can go to our quote page to get your quote today. Alternative why not take a look at our FAQ’s page where you can discover more information about Capital Captions and how we differ from the rest.