Closed Captions: All-Capitals or Mostly-Lowercase? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 05-03-2021, 11:25 PM

According to AudioAccessibility.com, initially, closed-captioning on TVs were in all-capital letters because older technologies wouldn't allow them to be displayed in mixed-case (meaning most letters were in lowercase). But over time, technology has advanced to allow for a crisper display of mixed-case letters. Early CC decoders couldn't display lowercase letters with true descenders (like the tails of "g", "j", "p", "q", and "y"). Television programs are virtually 100% captioned because the FCC has put a requirement on virtually all television program producers to do so.

Most shows used all-capitals closed-captioning until around the mid-2000s decade, when some shows on CBS and FOX started having their CC in mixed-case/most-letters-in-lowercase format. Eventually, in the mid-2010s, NBC's and ABC's scripted programs switched their CC from all-caps to mixed-case. And I think most of the CW's programs have made the switch, too (with a select few exceptions). Nowadays, only news programs, sports, and live events will still use all-capitals closed-captioning.

So, what are your opinions and thoughts regarding the overall switch from all-capitals to mixed-case? Which of the two options do you prefer?

James28 · 01-12-2022, 07:56 PM

I'll start by offering my own opinion:

I sometimes can't stand capitals-only closed captioning for scripted stuff or anything that isn't a live event, and I'm glad this gradual shift to mixed-case closed captioning is happening. A possible reason for this could be that all-caps closed captioning is too expensive, and therefore, mixed-case CC is cheaper. Also, all-caps CC may give the illusion of shouting, even though mixed-case used to indicate whispered dialogue in TV shows. The only parts of the CC that can be in all-capitals are the names of the speaker and descriptions of the film/TV show's non-speech elements, meaning mostly-lowercase dialogue.

I was used to all-caps CC when I was watching Cartoon Network a lot when as a kid, but not anymore. Nowadays, if a movie formerly used all-caps CC, it would be updated so that the movie's dialogue has most letters in lowercase. If it hasn't, well, I'll just have to turn the CC off (especially if I'm viewing a film that I've been wanting to see for a long time, only for said film to use CC in which EVERYTHING is capitalized except the name of the speaker).

Frankly, there is no need for movies and TV shows to closed-caption in all-caps after 2020.

GentlemanJim · 01-13-2022, 12:55 PM

I find that with all-caps, I can watch TV without my glasses too, so there is a benefit most would not think of.

My local diginet broadcasters use smaller characters than I get through my local cable provider, so I usually have to put on the glasses regardless when watching them.

GentlemanJim · 01-13-2022, 01:01 PM

However, I resurrected an old pair of Radio Shack wireless headphones, and those are the schiznik for programs that I don't want to ignore the visuals just to get the spoken words from CC

And then there is Bounce network. Doesn't matter if I'm watching cable or over the air, half the CC content I get from them is nonsense text.

AMackII · 01-14-2022, 05:09 PM

All Caps

RetroGuy2000 · 01-14-2022, 05:13 PM

Mixed case. I don't need my TV shouting at me.

GentlemanJim · 01-14-2022, 05:32 PM

There are some programs that have always given me audio grief, even before age started taking it's toll.

Closed captioning is almost a must with X-Files, because they got that idiot Marc Snow blending in "background" music to the point it drowns out the dialog. I guess it's suppose to boost the suspense angle if you are confused about what really was said, but I loath that aspect.

James28 · 01-24-2022, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

I find that with all-caps, I can watch TV without my glasses too, so there is a benefit most would not think of.

My local diginet broadcasters use smaller characters than I get through my local cable provider, so I usually have to put on the glasses regardless when watching them.

I guess you'll just have to continue watching TV with your glasses on, because the day is coming where it will be illegal to closed-caption in all-caps.

Personally, I never want to go back to all-caps CC (except for live events). Another reason being I just find all-caps CC rather harsh-looking compared to mixed-case CC. About the programs that have failed to update their CC from all-caps to mixed case as of this writing: I think their (capitalized) CC is a couple of decades old (done during the 1990s or 2000s decades), and such CC is usually from providers like the National Captioning Institute or VITAC.

Dude111 · 01-24-2022, 08:23 PM

ALL CAPS ---- Easier to read!!!!!

GentlemanJim · 01-25-2022, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

I think their (capitalized) CC is a couple of decades old (done during the 1990s or 2000s decades), and such CC is usually from providers like the National Captioning Institute or VITAC.

Since you have accumulated knowledge on the subject. What is your experience with the Bounce network?

I have CC set up to work fine through my cable provider...all channels, except with Bounce I get about 25% of the dialog, and the rest unintelligible garbage.

Then, when I got my over the air antenna, I was hoping that would clear up, but it's the same over the air as on cable.

If they are using a different CC format than ALL the other channels, I have not been able to find one that works.

And then...like 2% of the time, it works perfectly, just enough to tease me.

James28 · 01-25-2022, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

Since you have accumulated knowledge on the subject. What is your experience with the Bounce network?

I've never watched the Bounce network full-time, or even part-time, so I can't say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

ALL CAPS ---- Easier to read!!!!!

Yes, but harder to keep costs down.

Any provider who STILL wants to use all-capitals CC for scripted programs in 2022, or any future years thereafter, can go straight to hell.

GentlemanJim · 01-26-2022, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

I've never watched the Bounce network full-time, or even part-time, so I can't say.

Not a big Steven Segal fan, ehhh?

GentlemanJim · 01-26-2022, 12:21 AM

FWIW, I just verified what kind of CC I'm getting from my Comcast provider.

It is all caps, but the leading letter in every sentence, and the first letter of all proper names is about 20% taller than all the other capital letters.

And the stated font style in my set-up screen calls the style "small capitals".

James28 · 02-21-2023, 12:36 AM

If you have been watching Green Acres on MeTV and PlutoTV, you will notice that its closed-captioning is entirely in uppercase, with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN LOWERCASE WHATSOEVER! You could tell that it's shades of pre-1987 The Caption Center at WGBH. If it's not (and unless you somehow saw those exact same closed-captions before 2000), what kind of closed-captioning company did the distributor for Green Acres hire during the 2010s? Whoever such a company is, they may be the worst, maybe just as worse as the stubborn National Captioning Institute.

Yong Fang · 02-21-2023, 05:30 AM

I use captions a lot since I watch a lot of Youtube and not all the videos have the sound as a high enough sound level, or I usually want to be able to know all the dialogue of the video that I might miss without the caption. I dont need it usually but it is a nice luxury.

View Poll Results: Which style of Closed-Captioning do you prefer?
"Mixed-Case" (Most Letters in Lowercase)	11	50.00%
All-Capitals	5	22.73%
I'm Indifferent	6	27.27%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll

05-03-2021, 11:25 PM	#1
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	Closed Captions: All-Capitals or Mostly-Lowercase? According to AudioAccessibility.com, initially, closed-captioning on TVs were in all-capital letters because older technologies wouldn't allow them to be displayed in mixed-case (meaning most letters were in lowercase). But over time, technology has advanced to allow for a crisper display of mixed-case letters. Early CC decoders couldn't display lowercase letters with true descenders (like the tails of "g", "j", "p", "q", and "y"). Television programs are virtually 100% captioned because the FCC has put a requirement on virtually all television program producers to do so. Most shows used all-capitals closed-captioning until around the mid-2000s decade, when some shows on CBS and FOX started having their CC in mixed-case/most-letters-in-lowercase format. Eventually, in the mid-2010s, NBC's and ABC's scripted programs switched their CC from all-caps to mixed-case. And I think most of the CW's programs have made the switch, too (with a select few exceptions). Nowadays, only news programs, sports, and live events will still use all-capitals closed-captioning. So, what are your opinions and thoughts regarding the overall switch from all-capitals to mixed-case? Which of the two options do you prefer?
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01-12-2022, 07:56 PM	#2
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	I'll start by offering my own opinion: I sometimes can't stand capitals-only closed captioning for scripted stuff or anything that isn't a live event, and I'm glad this gradual shift to mixed-case closed captioning is happening. A possible reason for this could be that all-caps closed captioning is too expensive, and therefore, mixed-case CC is cheaper. Also, all-caps CC may give the illusion of shouting, even though mixed-case used to indicate whispered dialogue in TV shows. The only parts of the CC that can be in all-capitals are the names of the speaker and descriptions of the film/TV show's non-speech elements, meaning mostly-lowercase dialogue. I was used to all-caps CC when I was watching Cartoon Network a lot when as a kid, but not anymore. Nowadays, if a movie formerly used all-caps CC, it would be updated so that the movie's dialogue has most letters in lowercase. If it hasn't, well, I'll just have to turn the CC off (especially if I'm viewing a film that I've been wanting to see for a long time, only for said film to use CC in which EVERYTHING is capitalized except the name of the speaker). Frankly, there is no need for movies and TV shows to closed-caption in all-caps after 2020.
	Last edited by James28; 01-12-2022 at 08:56 PM.

01-13-2022, 12:55 PM	#3
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I find that with all-caps, I can watch TV without my glasses too, so there is a benefit most would not think of. My local diginet broadcasters use smaller characters than I get through my local cable provider, so I usually have to put on the glasses regardless when watching them.
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01-14-2022, 05:13 PM	#6
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Mixed case. I don't need my TV shouting at me.
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01-13-2022, 01:01 PM	#4
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	However, I resurrected an old pair of Radio Shack wireless headphones, and those are the schiznik for programs that I don't want to ignore the visuals just to get the spoken words from CC And then there is Bounce network. Doesn't matter if I'm watching cable or over the air, half the CC content I get from them is nonsense text.

01-14-2022, 05:09 PM	#5
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,215	All Caps

01-14-2022, 05:32 PM	#7
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	There are some programs that have always given me audio grief, even before age started taking it's toll. Closed captioning is almost a must with X-Files, because they got that idiot Marc Snow blending in "background" music to the point it drowns out the dialog. I guess it's suppose to boost the suspense angle if you are confused about what really was said, but I loath that aspect.

01-24-2022, 08:23 PM	#9
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,981	ALL CAPS ---- Easier to read!!!!!

01-26-2022, 12:21 AM	#13
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	FWIW, I just verified what kind of CC I'm getting from my Comcast provider. It is all caps, but the leading letter in every sentence, and the first letter of all proper names is about 20% taller than all the other capital letters. And the stated font style in my set-up screen calls the style "small capitals".

02-21-2023, 12:36 AM	#14
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	If you have been watching Green Acres on MeTV and PlutoTV, you will notice that its closed-captioning is entirely in uppercase, with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN LOWERCASE WHATSOEVER! You could tell that it's shades of pre-1987 The Caption Center at WGBH. If it's not (and unless you somehow saw those exact same closed-captions before 2000), what kind of closed-captioning company did the distributor for Green Acres hire during the 2010s? Whoever such a company is, they may be the worst, maybe just as worse as the stubborn National Captioning Institute.

02-21-2023, 05:30 AM	#15
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	I use captions a lot since I watch a lot of Youtube and not all the videos have the sound as a high enough sound level, or I usually want to be able to know all the dialogue of the video that I might miss without the caption. I dont need it usually but it is a nice luxury.