Before we dig into how to turn on closed captions on your TV, let’s first address what they are, when are closed captions required, and who can benefit from closed captions on TV. Show
What Are Closed Captions on TV?Sometimes mistaken for the same thing, subtitles on your TV and closed captioning CC are two different tools that serve different purposes. While subtitles show a text version of the dialogues of characters as they appear on the screen, translated or not, closed captions recreate on-screen dialogue and narration, describe background sounds and noises, and even tell viewers the characters’ tone. For example, imagine a tense scene in a horror movie that has dialogue but also has mood-setting noises happening in the background. Closed captions will recreate the conversation in text, just like subtitles would, but also describe the background sounds, usually within brackets like [ominous music]. Unlike subtitles that are only shown when the characters appear, closed captions will let viewers know if a dialogue is happening offscreen. When Are Closed Captions Required?Closed captions are a legal requirement for all content that’s publicly broadcast and televised following the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. That also includes all streaming services. Who Benefits From Closed Captions on TV?Initially, the deaf and hard of hearing community was the main target of closed captions on TV. But people without a hearing impairment are also choosing to watch TV with closed captions on. Here are some of the reasons why you may want to do the same:
How to Turn Closed Captions on Your TVTurning on closed captions is not the same process for all TV sets, but we’ll take you through it, step-by-step. In some TV it’s as simple as pressing the CC button on your remote control, while others require a little more setting up. How to Turn Closed Captions on for Cable TVWhether you’re on Xfinity, Spectrum, or Cox, turning on closed captions for cable TV will require a series of steps using your remote control. Clients using Spectrum:
For clients using Cox, the instructions vary depending on what type of equipment you have. If you’re using Cox and have an Advanced TV HD Receiver:
If you have an Advanced TV DVR or a Contour Receiver, you should be able to access Closed Captioning by merely pressing the CC button on your remote. Turning on closed captions for clients using Xfinity is also different depending on which device you’re using. Here’s a step-by-step guide for Xfinity clients with an HD TV Box:
Xfinity clients with an SD TV Box will have to turn on Closed Captioning on their TV sets instead. How to Turn Closed Captions on for Satellite TVFor satellite TV clients, whether you’re with DIRECTV or Dish, turning closed captioning involves just a few steps. Turning on closed captions for DIRECTV is a fast and straightforward three-step process:
For clients using Dish, the process of turning closed captioning on is also simple, with just one change depending on what remote control you have. Here are the three steps to follow:
Now that you learned the different ways of turning on closed caption options on your TV, watching your favorite shows will never be the same again. For now, only pre-recorded TV shows use closed captioning. Maybe this feature will be added to live television broadcasts in the future following the steps of Facebook and YouTube. Both began adding real-time captions to their videos in 2017 and 2018, respectively. How do I get closed caption on my Spectrum app?To enable Closed Captioning from the Live TV screen in the Spectrum TV app: Swipe down to enter the player menu. Swipe right to the Subtitles tab, and then press or swipe down to enter the Subtitles tab. When prompted, use the touchpad to select On.
How do I get closed caption on my Samsung Smart TV?Closed captions and other accessibility settings for your Samsung TV. From the Home screen, use the directional pad on the TV Remote and select Settings (All Settings).. Select General (General & Privacy), and then select Accessibility.. Select Caption Settings, and then select Caption to turn captions On.. How do I use the spectrum app on my Samsung Smart TV?Go to the Smart Hub on your Samsung Smart TV. Use the arrow buttons on your remote to navigate to the Spectrum TV icon. Press Select on your remote to start the app. Sign in using your Spectrum username and password.
Does spectrum have closed caption?Closed captions can be turned on and off by pressing the Options button and then the number 1 button on your Spectrum Guide Remote. Note: Closed captioning options can also be managed through your TV's manufacturer settings by pressing the CC button on your TV's remote or through your TV's settings menu.
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