« Captioned films have come a long way….. | Home | So, who got NBC’s ‘Heroes’ captioned online? »
Netflix’s “Instant Viewing” does not support closed captioning.
By jjpuorro | June 5, 2007
Netflix is now introducing “Instant Viewing” which enables anyone with an Internet connection to be able to watch movies on their personal computer (link: http://www.netflix.com/MediaCenter?id=53…) . This was appealing to me because I would be able to watch movies instantly. The reason I jumped ship from Netflix to Blockbuster online was because with Blockbuster I am able to run out to a local store and exchange my viewed DVD for another one instantly. Timing is especially important for me because I watch tons of serial TV shows on DVD’s and it irriates me whenever I finish a DVD and cannot watch the next episode on another DVD. With “Instant Viewing” I would be able to watch a million TV episodes without even running out to the local Blockbuster. Great idea, right?
Being Deaf, I fully expected “Instant Viewing” to not support closed captioning. Nonethless, I decided to shoot off an E-mail and see if the movies were closed captioned. Here’s the E-mail string pasted below:
=================================================
From:”Netflix Customer Service” <customerservice@netflix.com>
[Add to Address Book]
To:jj.puorro@xxxx.com
Subject:Re: Other [NFC15] NFLX ID: 0WA943MY48U0TCHBURX8FR8U9084TTDA
Date:Tuesday, June 05, 2007 5:55:28 PM
[View Source]
Dear J.J.,
Thanks for your message.
Netflix is committed to assisting our customers. While our instant viewing
content does not currently support closed captioning, it is a feature that we
are looking to expand upon.
You may reach instant viewing support at 1-866-402-2616 between 7am and 11pm
Pacific Time, seven days a week. Please note that we will need you to be in
front of your computer at the time you call.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Thanks,
Christopher
Netflix Customer Service
Satisfied with our response?
SATISFIED
http://www.netflix.com/CSSurvey?tid=0WA9…
ul=yes
UNSATISFIED
http://www.netflix.com/CSSurvey?tid=0WA9…
ul=no
AOL users please copy and paste the link into your browser.
> —–Original Message—–
> From: jj.puorro at xxxx.com
> Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 8:54:16 PM
> To: customerservice at netflix.com
> Subject: Other [NFC15]
>
>
> Subject: watch now
> Error Code:
> Hi,
>
> I am a former Netflix subscriber. I am curious about the “Watch Now”
> feature. Are the movies subtitled or closed captioned? Meaning if the DVD
> offers subtitles, would the movie be subtitled on the PC as well?
>
> I am a Deaf person who relies on captions/subtitles to watch films.
>
> Thanks for any response that I may receive.
>
> -J.J.
============================================
” While our instant viewing content does not currently support closed captioning, it is a feature that we
are looking to expand upon.”
It’s nice that they are “looking to expand upon”, but as a Deaf person I know that this isn’t happening anytime soon. A part of me just accepts this fact and another part of me is sick and tired of this crap. Don’t get me wrong, Netflix isn’t out to ruin things for the Deaf community or anything. It’s just that it does not occur to these people when they are inventing something new to make their invention 100% accessible to everybody. I can understand that “they” don’t mean to exclude the Deaf community and that things like this happen all the time.
However, think about this….does anyone see any public buliding being built these days without wheelchair ramps, handicapped bathrooms, water fountains set closer to the ground, and etc..???? The answer is “No”…at least in America. What happens if a builder builds a bulding without wheelchair access? Surely, the builder would get fined and be forced to install accessible ramps and so forth.
There needs to be a law in this country that requires everything on broadcast on TV, shown in the movie theaters, on DVD, and streamed on the Internet to be closed captioned. We in the Deaf community are always playing catch up with techonology. Right now, we can’t watch movies from Netflix on our PC’s, we cannot catch a missing episode of ‘Lost’ on line, we cannot always watch the bonus features on DVD’s, and so forth…it is getting old. I lived through TV not always being captioned on prime time, movies not being captioned at all, and now streaming videos…..when will we ever be “ahead of the technological curve”? Will it ever happen?
P.S.- I have to moderate all comments. I was just hit with 8,000+ spam comments….anyone know how to delete all of them instead of 20 at a time???
Topics: Uncategorized |
June 7th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
My goodness, who has time for all of this? I have Netflix, have had it for sometime and have never used the instant viewing part. I do read the descriptions (written) that they provide, tho.
Lantana, Lantana’s Latitude
November 1st, 2007 at 1:26 am
I’m not deaf, but I’m a person who often watches foreign movies. I was disappointed when I found that Netflix immediately showed dubbed versions of foreign movies. I simply can’t watch dubbed movies. So, I emailed them requesting that they make the option of subtitles available. It’s bothersome for a lot of people that they didn’t think these things through. Hopefully, for the both of us, the service will be expanded.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
I agree, it is annoying as hell not being able to watch stuff online.
March 9th, 2008 at 9:02 am
[...] and the poor development of their “Instant Viewing” feature, which you can read about here, here, and here. The captioning of a/v material on the Internet is definitely a move I want to [...]
March 15th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Anything streamed on the internet? Think about that for a minute. By that logic, every book published, even by the smallest press and in the most limited run, should have to be published in Braille. It’s completely unenforcable, and I don’t think it’s an outlandish suggestion that some artists would see any restriction on their presentation of their work as a first ammendment issue.
March 16th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Why not? It should be a law as far as I am concerned. Books are written in more than one language…movies are subtitled or dubbed for many different languages…why not English subtitles and/or brallie? Anything is COMPLETELY ENFORCEABLE if we want it to be…
March 16th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
If your local bookstore has a Spanish-language section, take a look at the books you find there (the translations, not those originally written in Spanish). What you’ll find is that most, if not all, of those books are published by major houses. That’s because it’s not financially possible for small presses to pay someone to translate their books. While it’s obviously not as costly CC a film as it is to translate an entire book, plenty of films, particularly those on the net, are made by companies that literally couldn’t afford to pay a temp to come in for a week and do it. I used to work for a small literary magazine, and if we had had to publish our journal in a second format, we couldn’t have published it at all.
Two more quick points.1.) The only reason TV can be forced to CC is that the airwaves are considered public property, leased by broadcasters. That doesn’t apply here. 2.) I can’t think of a web content law that has been effectively enforced.
March 16th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
It is specifically stated in the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act circa 90-91) that anyone who can afford it, should do so. I am paraphrasing here of course. ADA does not expect smaller companies to be obligated.
As for your two quick points:
1.) Netflix is not “public airwaves”, but most of their DVD’s…about 90% are already subtitled and/or captioned…so why not simply figure out how to derive those subtitle files and put them online??? I mean this is 2008…and we put a man on the moon almost 40 years ago…it’s absurd that this cannot be done..
2.) That’s true…nothing on the web has never been enforced…but I am sure if congress went into session and passed a law that effectively said, “No more BS…if you don’t offer subtitled content we’ll kick your ass”…it could happen…
I don’t care if it is unlikely to happen or if there are good reasons why it is not happening…IT.HAS.TO.HAPPEN.NOW I have zero tolerance for these things just like a wheelchair bound person would have zero tolerance for a building without ramps…
March 24th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I use the instant viewing all the time and love it as I am not deaf I still wish they had captions its nice to read while watching just in case you can’t make out what they are saying.
March 29th, 2008 at 10:44 am
As a deaf person it is discouraging not to hear
the dialog. Last movies received (new) were a
complete fiasco since the story line was not
known. Am sure the “Saved” movies will be the same. Is there a way to tell which movie has CC
before ordering?
June 7th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Building software is a process. The streaming service that Netflix provides is great now and still in it’s infancy. I’m sure they will continue to improve it to meet the needs of their customers.
What about competition? Why not scream at Blockbuster and Hollywood Video for not coming out with something better and with subtitles?
Another law isn’t what America needs. Start a petition and have people sign it online and send it to Netflix.
1 person bitching on a blog isn’t enough.
August 10th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Mat, online petitions rarely if ever work. When people DO sign petitions, it’s about things that directly affect them. People are self centered. Ever see a celebrity join a cause that didn’t affect them or a loved one personally?
CC online would be awesome. I don’t think it’s because they don’t care about those with disabilities… although if it were something to cater to a specific race, they’d jump on it. I wonder why skin color takes precedence over a valid complaint like this one?
September 6th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
To pretend that wheelchair-bound persons have as much access to “everything” (buildings, etc) as non-disabled people is absurd. Here in New York, about 20% of subway stations–most people’s only means of transportation–are wheelchair accessible. That’s a person’s only way of getting around and they can’t even use it. I think your issues with Netflix’s CC policy are completely valid, but to try to put a perspective on it by comparing it to the access afforded to those in wheelchairs isn’t appropriate. In this case, you can still get movies from Netflix, you just can’t watch them immediately. I hardly think that’s something worthy of Congress’s time.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Their Ready Device doesn’t include captioning either.
I think Courtney is representative of a lot of what us deaf people put up with on a daily basis. Yeah I can watch the movie, I can visually SEE the movie, but if I can’t hear what’s going on, what’s the point? It certainly isn’t enjoyable. As was originally pointed out in the original post…the deaf community is always playing catchup with technology. There seems to be a disgusting lack of foresight to include captioning in new technology.
As far as something like this not being worth Congresses time…Just because our disability is not as noticeable as a mobile disability, does not make it any less valid.
December 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Netflix chose silverlight for their netflix feature. this is even worse because if netflix says no to captions most certainly microsoft wont. I’m deaf myself and i hate netflix for giving me the runaround about captions. we have the technology right now for instance .. quicktime has subtitles why not convert to mpeg4 for streaming with captions on it. or magpie from the national captioning institute. i don’t get it.. we already have the technology so why not use it??
December 31st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I’m not hearing-impaired but I will only watch TV and dvds with subtitles and/or closed-captioning. Actors mumble their lines or regional accents can often be tough to decipher, plus increasingly loud audio tracks can drown out a lot of dialogue. I also tend to watch late at night when TV volume is a consideration for my apartment building neighbors. Also, my partner isn’t a native English speaker and captions or subtitles help enormously. I can’t speak for Blockbuster, but I’ve found Netflix’s captioning/subtitle information shockingly unreliable. I will always write a comment to warn prospective renters when there are NOT subs or c/c on the dvd, despite Netflix’s claim. They can’t even do this much?? I will always verify c/c or subtitle availability by googling the dvd in question and checking the specs and buyers’ comments at amazon.com, etc. Yes, I CAN hear, so I can’t imagine how infuriating this callous disregard is for hearing-impaired viewers. I’m not sure how subtitling in movie theaters can be done; people who don’t like them will find them distracting and raise a stink, unless they are viewable only from certain seats (e.g., some theaters and opera houses have subtitles that appear on the backs of seats). Subtitling dvds costs money and some dvd companies are notorious for not subtitling. I say, tough!–spring for the subs or c/c’s or don’t put ‘em out at all, and that is a law I say should be passed. It doesn’t cost that much! I know I haven’t addressed your concern about lacks of c/c’s in Netflix’s instant viewing, but their response that “this is a feature we are looking to expand upon” does sound like a glib brush-off. If they are in fact “looking to expand upon” this feature, you’d get a more definite reply (”by the end of 2009,” say, or even “our technicians are working on it now.”) The fact that there was no information given about instant-viewing c/c’s in their promotions tells me that it was never a serious consideration–just as their unverified, haphazard subtitle/c/c information on their rentable dvds tells me that no one at Netflix’s corporate headquarters “gets it.”
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
From another perspective … I am more upset with the production companies that put Spanish/French/ whatever subtitles on the 1st, 2nd season of tv series then drop them after the first few seasons, just so my wife can get interested in the series … only to be twarted when it starts getting good. Hmmmm!
Not to mention that most captioning is horribly inaccurate, even the english closed captioning .. (take note NCI!!)
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I got a 4 month subscription and I really like it buy I won[t renew because there is no closed caption.
SOOOOOOOOOOo watching movies on my computer is not for me.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
we have the technology now netflix why not use it????
seriously people check out this website.
http://www.ccmaker.com/
January 7th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I ended up canceling my Netflix subscription due to the lack of online captions. It was just too frustrating.
January 14th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Yes this frustrated me too… the instant viewing is super awesome, but my friend is hard of hearing and we don’t like watch movies without captions.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I won’t buy DVD’s with my own money any more, although I will ask for and accept them as gifts, because I’m tired of the “here, have a bone, doggy” attitude towards accessibility and the fact that most special features are not accessible. I won’t pay for Netflix either, although my GF has an account and shares it with me (and she’s very supportive).
I also can’t stand people who say “but, oh, and it’s expensive, and erm, it’s not practical”. Whose side are you on, buddy? Come back and give us your lines again when you’re old and can’t hear so well or you get into an accident and lose your hearing, or meet the love of your life who is deaf.
All the “it’s expensive” excuses are bull. I can subtitle my own videos in zip flat with nothing more than frickin’ Windows Movie Maker - and that’s saying a lot because generally, Microsoft makes crap software.
So we as a society need to grow up and get with the program. Grow some brains and stop drooling over money and power, etcetera, yadda bing.
Every building that isn’t a private home should be accessible, every book should be in Braille or quickly available in Braille, and every video should be captioned/subtitled, or quickly available as such, and with no lazy cop-outs or sloppiness. Just because IT COULD BE YOU - oh, so unbelievably easy could it be you.
January 16th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I agree with Tim. I am not deaf, but I always watch TV/DVDs with the captions on because I often watch when my kids are in bed and the volume can change drastically from scene to scene. I just prefer to read to make sure I don’t miss anything. I agree that the technology is available and it should be used.
I do use Netflix instant watching feature every day, and I want captions!
January 17th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
[...] Heres a link to a deaf customer that wrote Netflix about these issues Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Netflix vs. Blockbuster « Digital ClaxonLG high-def TVs to stream Netflix videos directlyNetflix and TiVo Team UpDevices for Netflix Delivered via Web [...]
February 10th, 2009 at 8:54 am
[...] Heres a link to a deaf customer that wrote Netflix about these issues [...]
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:49 am
nbsp;Hulu.com has captions available on just about all tv shows streaming and also they are catching up quite a bit on captioned films that’s streaming also and it’s free. go check out hulu.com
I’m deaf myself and netflix sucks for watch it now feature. I’ve left netflix and gave them thumbs down because i can watch high quality streaming with closed captions available for free!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:05 am
http://www.hulu.com/popular/feature_films/all_time?special_feature=Closed+Captioning
see for yourself closecaptioned full feature films free via hulu.com
March 17th, 2009 at 6:27 am
I am not deaf. I think subtitles could be very helpful in reforming America’s declining use of decent spelling, grammar, and punctuation. My boyfriend and I always watch things with subtitles because we can understand every word. I notice now that I do, in fact, read every sentence while listening as well. I believe it has improved my reading speed. Maybe television wouldn’t be so terrible and mind numbing for children if it improved their reading skills!
March 17th, 2009 at 6:33 am
I’m with Sunkisthappy.
It’s amazing how no one has anything bad to say about captions and subtitles and yet nobody provides this feature for online movies.
Kapitalism rots your brain.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I felt your pain. As a hearing-impaired person, I am furious how slow the politicians are on making the laws to have the closed captioning accessible for all of us at all times. Not only Netflix, but also TV companies with HDMI feature, cable providers with HD channels, and Apple Computers with its iPod and iPhone, all can get away with it because it’s a “new technology” and they do not have to meet the laws. It is still against the law and it is not easy just to be limited again. I can’t enjoy a movie on my iPod or watch movie instantly on Netflix or even watch shows on HD channels or HDMI (the closed captions only work with ‘regular’ transmission cables- I guess CC is too advanced? Thanks to hulu.com who faithfully listens to its customers by adding CC to several shows, but the ones that don’t are usually from the TV channel’s website and they do not want to provide CC for some reason. Netflix is in a process of putting CC on? It’s been …2 FRICKING YEARS since you sent them a email. I’ve mailed Apple a letter about CC on iPod and on iTunes- they told me not to send them any requests EVER again because they’re “busy” and “doing their own thing.” That was harsh and I’m their stockholder. This ignites me to be a politician to make a better living with every citizen in America without too many b.s.ter and slowpokes around.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:23 am
better living -for- every citizens.. i mean
Plus it’s pain in the ass when you watch some of the shows on HD channels (if you’re lucky).. the CC delays even it’s not live.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Hi! This is Karina! Remember? Anyway, are there any captioning in the theaters near me (Culver City)? I have tried the window/mirror thingy and it was awful, I had to keep adjusting it. And it was so hard to read. So are there any theaters with actual captioning on the screen? Thank you!
PS if you want my number to talk to me, ask my dad because I can’t put it here or other people will read it and send me spam texts. And you already know his number… right?
April 26th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Somebody should make a software program that translates all computer audio into text at the bottom of the screen for the deaf community. If there is software that can translate my voice into text I don’t see why it can’t be done and hasn’t been done.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Derek, why not go ahead and become a politician? We certainly need more people in politics who feel the way you do. I don’t get involved in politics at all (I barely ever was) because NOBODY
April 27th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Derek, why not go ahead and become a politician? We certainly need more people in politics who feel the way you do. I don’t get involved in politics at all (I barely ever was) because NOBODY represents me and what I and people like me stand for.
So, go for it. If you want it done “right” you have to do it yourself.
May 25th, 2009 at 7:30 am
J.J: if you think it should be the law they’ll just take away instant viewing until they can fix it in a year or two. Do you want nothing in the meantime? I guess we can’t always have our cake and eat it too.
May 25th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Exactly,
If I can’t watch it…nobody should until it’s 100% accessible.
Should we build new buildings and not allow wheel chair access for 1-2 years until we build ramps? You cannot do that because it’s a building code these days to build wheel chair ramps. Same difference.
May 30th, 2009 at 4:23 am
JJ - tiny error in your blog post. You wrote: Being Deaf, I fully expected “Instant Viewing” to not support closed captioning.
I don’t think you meant to say “not support.” Correct the error, then delete my comment.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
[...] his campaign to convince Netflix to include closed captioned movies offered on Netflix’s “Instant View” online rental service, which doesn’t offered closed captioning. I commended him for setting up a Facebook campaign [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 11:23 am
I am addict to subtitles… It bothers me to watch the movies at netflix without subtitles… I was very dissapointed when found out netflix did not have cc. Instead of complaining we should find a solution any ideas?