Subtitles and Caption Closed Captions vs Open Captions 2

Question 1

What encoding standard is used for closed captions in digital US television (ATSC)?

Accepted Answer

CEA-708

Answer

CEA-708 is the standard for closed captions in digital US television (ATSC), offering enhanced features like multiple fonts, sizes, and colors compared to the analog CEA-608 standard.

Question 2

What is a key accessibility advantage of closed captions over open captions?

Accepted Answer

Closed captions can be resized and repositioned by the viewer

Answer

Closed captions encoded in CEA-708 or web standards allow viewers to customize font size, color, and position, which benefits users with low vision or specific reading needs.

Question 3

What is the difference between captions and subtitles in US terminology?

Accepted Answer

Captions include non-speech audio cues; subtitles typically provide only dialogue

Answer

In US terminology, captions include non-speech audio descriptions (sound effects, speaker IDs) for deaf viewers, while subtitles typically only transcribe spoken dialogue for hearing viewers.

Question 4

Which streaming platform requirement typically mandates closed captions as opposed to open captions for uploaded content?

Accepted Answer

YouTube, Netflix, and most major platforms require closed captions in a sidecar file format

Answer

Major US streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix require closed captions delivered as separate sidecar files (e.g., SRT, VTT) rather than burned-in open captions.

Question 5

In what scenario would a producer choose open captions over closed captions for a web video?

Accepted Answer

When the platform does not support sidecar caption files

Answer

If a platform does not support separate caption file formats or the video will be shared across platforms where caption support is uncertain, open captions ensure accessibility in all environments.

Subtitles and Caption Practice Test

Subtitles and Caption Practice Test

Subtitles and Caption Closed Captions vs Open Captions 2