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Closed captioning is the means by which  individuals who are hearing impaired can read the dialogue on television programming by displaying the text on the lower third of the monitor.  The FCC approved the earliest closed captioning directive in 1993.  This obliged all analog televisions with monitors larger than 13 inches sold and/or manufactured in the US  to have a integrated decoder to display closed display.  Congress followed suit several years later with the 1996 decision to require all video programming distributors including cable TV, broadcasters, and satellite distributors to close caption their programming.

The FCC added to this decision a year later with a detailed transition calendar that forced all distributors to expand the amount of programming that contained captioning. Lastly, in July 2002, the FCC accepted a second law requiring digital television receivers to include closed captioning display mechanisms.

Being involved in the communications industry while working at the American Movie Company has given me a personal experience at the impact these decisions have had on most studio productions.  One of these effects has been how video and television productions have adapted the use of the teleprompter.

While most people recognize why closed captioning is valuable, many people don’t realize how the teleprompter has  a key role in the conveyance of closed captioning to your television.  There are two sections into which closed captioning systems are divided:  On-Line systems and Off-Line systems. This is when the teleprompter becomes involved.

On-Line captioning is the teleprompter-based solution widely used by broadcasters and news stations. In this circumstance, pre-scripted stories are fed from the newsroom automation system to both the teleprompter and to the closed caption encoder.  This data typically does not include closed caption control codes but rather relies on the encoder inside the monitor itself to add the right codes each time an ASCII carriage return is received.

The regard for this kind of system is based on the fact that neither a steno-captioner nor a computer with costly software is necessary.  In most instances, the teleprompter system is already on-site and closed captioning can be added for only the cost of the encoder.

Closed captioning is an exciting field that offers many opportunities for both the television broadcaster and the video producer.  Hopefully, this introduction will help you to make intelligent decisions when you must elect a caption service provider, procure equipment, or offer information to those who will make these choices.

It is not only the impaired who are grateful that this standard exists but also those in other countries who get involved in translations of English based movies.

For those who have had to use any kind of teleprompter before it is an absolute life line. For more information,videos and articles on teleprompters click to see more at Teleprompter New York rentals.

Bill Milling-917-414-5489
Miranda Sherrell
212-219-1075 Icon Number
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