Subtitles On Sky

[Explorer-8]

I have got Sky television, but it annoys me that only the BBC and ITV channels have subtitles. For example, on Watch channel and the film channels, the subtitles don't work. There are too many films with actors whispering and muttering, so subtitles are essential. Is there a way of getting subtitles for these channels? With the amount of money that Sky TV costs, they ought to have it as part of the normal package.

[Tuvok]

Have you turned on the subtitle feature?

Press Help then press down arrow then right arrow then select.

[Aquariel]

If the broadcaster doesn't provide them, there's no way to enable them. Sky isn't the broadcaster for a lot of those channels so has no control over subtitles for them. Some channels have a smaller budget, probably ones like Watch/Horror, and don't have the resources to provide subtitles for all programmes. For example, Watch is currently showing Se7en without subs, but the programmes after it do have subs. When you say film channels, which do you mean? All the Sky Movies ones have extensive subtitle coverage as far as I can tell. And check Tuvok's advice above!

[Explorer-8]

I tried that method on TCM and Watch channels, but it doesn't work. The other method is to click on Services and System setup, but that doesn't work either.

[Buenchico]

Sky is only responsible for providing subtitling on its own channels. (e.g. Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, etc). Any programmes it transmits from other broadcasters will carry the subtitles provided by those broadcasters (if any). Further, many of the channels that a Sky box receives have nothing whatsoever to do with Sky anyway. (They're 'free to air' channels, which you can receive without a Sky subscription).

So there's no point moaning about (or to) Sky. It's the individual broadcasters that are responsible for ensuring that they meet the OfCom targets for subtitling. (The current target is 80% of all programmes transmitted by broadcasters licensed in the UK. Broadcasters licensed overseas aren't covered by the OfCom rules).

If you're finding that many programmes on the Watch channel don't have subtitles, I'm somewhat surprised as Watch is part of UKTV, which is co-owned by the BBC and would normally be expected to be meet all of OfCom's requirements. If you want to challenge UKTV about the lack of subtitles on Watch, email them:
[email protected]
or write to them:
UKTV, 10 Hammersmith Grove, London W6 7AP

To contact TCM, send an email to [email protected]

OfCom's requirements for subtitling can be found here:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/other-codes/tv-access-services-2015.pdf

To make a complaint to OfCom (that particular broadcasters aren't complying with the Code) use the contact details here:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/what-is-ofcom/contact-us/

[Explorer-8]

I've just tried 5USA and Movies4Men, and subtitles don't work on them either. They must be low budget too. I don't have the complete movie package, so I don't know about Sky Action, Sky Greats, or the extra channels that cost alot of money to watch them.

[Explorer-8]

Thanks for your answers Buenchico and Aquariel. There is alot of information there which could be useful for other people who are as frustrated as I am about the lack of subtitles.

[Buenchico]

If the electronic programme guide (or other TV listings, such as magazines) show that programmes are subtitled, and you find that they're not, it suggests that there's a fault with your Sky box and/or the signal from your dish.

I've not got Sky but I've spent the last decade or so with a very weak Freeview signal (because my aerial was pointing closer to the ground than to the skies!). I found that, while I could normally receive pictures and sound OK, the additional digital information packaged with the signals (such as subtitles) simply couldn't be received. So it's possible that your signal strength isn't as good as it could be, meaning that you can receive the programmes but not the subtitles. (That could be, for example, because the wind has knocked your dish slightly out of position. The Astra satellite is 22,000 miles away, so your dish needs to be very carefully aligned!).

So, if you find that you're not able to view subtitles which are meant to be there, it might be worth asking Sky if an engineer can check your dish alignment and your signal strength.

(BTW: My aerial finally fell down last night. I've spent most of the day buying and installing a new aerial!)

[Boto]

5USA does have subtitles as I often use them but don't know about Watch but I would be surprised if it didn't. Buenchico's suggestion about checking your dish etc sounds good.

[weecalf]

I used to be able to get subtitles by going to. Source then analogue this gave me some titles

[jennyjoan]

Ditto for Aquarial - I use subtitled 100% and found that many programmes do not have subititles. Deffo not the fault of Sky.

I have tried that Analogue business as in turn on 888 - you may get some and may not.

[Togo]

Buen admits to his first erection in 2016.

(BTW: My aerial finally fell down last night. I've spent most of the day buying and installing a new aerial!)

[Tuvok]

If you press the i button you will see if the program has subtitles if you see sin the top right of the description box that appears.

[Tuvok]

s in - not sin!!!