No Closed Captioning with Unbox?

[bicker]

Are there any plans to close caption Unbox programs? or make open captioned versions available for the hearing impaired?

[richsadams]

Are there any plans to close caption Unbox programs? or make open captioned versions available for the hearing impaired?+1 :up: It’s probably more of a question for Amazon actually...but TiVo should be able to exert some pressure.

I actually wrote to Amazon about this a while back. My e-mail and their repsonse can be found here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5334485&&#post5334485).

[syounger64]

I got the same response from Amazon. I am NOT happy about that. I can't enjoy any of the free NBC previews because there aren't any captioning. I think this is a ridiculous because when TIVO puts movie/TV previews in TIVO Central...it's always captioned!

Something needs to be done about this :mad:

[MickeS]

+1.

This is a big drawback.

[retired_guy]

+2; neither my wife or myself can use it without closed captions

[Graymalkin]

+3

It means that I won't be using the Unbox for any movies costing more than $1.

[astrohip]

Between no captions, and no HD, it's just a waste of time.

Which means all the NBC previews will go unwatched. I'll wait for the real deal to broadcast.

[jtlytle]

Unfair to Deaf/Hearing Impaired community!!

[Bierboy]

I agree with most of the above posters, however, I will say the Amazon's response is canned at best (with the obvious exception of the first sentence). It's not at all encouraging. I refuse to download any more content from Unbox unless it's free.

[AZ_Tivo]

I rented my first and last movie on unbox. No CC means no unbox for me.

[timckelley]

I'm not hearing imparied, but I do prefer to watch my shows with captions turned on.

[PeteEMT]

This an ongoing problem with more webisodes, slingbox,unbox basically streaming media in general. Part of it is because there's no standard for CC in Computer Media Players (WMP, Real Player etc).

Like tv, I think most companies are only gonna change when mandated.

[retired_guy]

Congress ought to pay some attention to this problem; this is probably about the only kind of legislation which can be passed with the next presidential election so close.

[mrmike]

This an ongoing problem with more webisodes, slingbox,unbox basically streaming media in general. Part of it is because there's no standard for CC in Computer Media Players (WMP, Real Player etc).


Actually, there are several, including SAMI, SSF, SRT, and .SUB. I get files from the UK all the time that have captioning on them. US producers just don't seem to care all that much.

[JustAllie]

Unfair to Deaf/Hearing Impaired community!!
It's also unfair to people who can't understand strange accents and rely on closed captioning to decipher what those people are saying. :o

[jtlytle]

It's also unfair to people who can't understand strange accents and rely on closed captioning to decipher what those people are saying. :o

That too! :)

[PeteEMT]

Actually, there are several, including SAMI, SSF, SRT, and .SUB. I get files from the UK all the time that have captioning on them. US producers just don't seem to care all that much.
But the non-standard problem is right there, everyone has their own standard. WMP looks for SAMI files, Real Player looks for a RealText file etc.

But I agree, producers wont even include captions in any format.

[richsadams]

Perhaps it would be good for everyone concerned to write to Amazon? The more feedback they get, the more pressure they should exert on the suppliers.

They do a pretty good job of burying their contact URL...but here it is…

Amazon Customer Help/Contact Web Page. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/features-and-services.html/103-9100862-5927059?ie=)

You just need to sign in and then express your opinion. I used "Recommendations" in the drop-down list but “Other services” might be appropriate as well. :up:

[bicker]

Great idea.

[fortt3]

You just need to sign in and then express your opinion. I used "Recommendations" in the drop-down list but “Other services” might be appropriate as well. :up:

Here is my comment to Amazon:
"I have been an Amazon customer since 1997 and am an owner of two TiVo DVRs both network-connected. I was excited to learn of the Unbox downloads for TiVo. However, both my wife and I are hearing impaired, and we require Closed Captioning in the shows we watch. We have tried some of the Unbox offerings, movies and shows ("Dreamgirls", "Bionic Woman") but unless the actor is looking directly at the camera, speaking clearly and with no background noise or music, we can't make out what they are saying.

Please do not reply with the canned response that you have sent others. I've heard the line about how Unbox content depends on your agreements with the content owners and you are working to improve those agreements. Hogwash. That is pure "spin".

If the content owners are not providing you with media files that have CCs, when everyone knows the content is CCd for other media (broadcast and DVDs) you should let them know in no uncertain terms they are not providing the full value of the same content and you won't pay what they are asking for it. Then you should discount non-CC media to your Unbox customers.

I believe Amazon would score a major public relations coup with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community by announcing that your Unbox downloads for PCs and TiVos will now be Closed Captioned and non-CCd media will be discounted.

As an electrical engineer, I understand there are multiple format for Closed-Captions in streaming media. However, since your downloads are basically WMV files, the SAMI format seems to be the leader, and it is a simple matter for your content providers to convert their existing captions to SAMI.

If in the long run, Amazon cannot get content provider to supply CC media files, then you at the very least should provide to Unbox purchasers a transcript of the content.

Again, I've seen your canned response. Please address the issues I've raised.
Unless you are able to get CCd content for Unbox, or Transcripts, my family won't be purchasing Unbox titles."

We will see.

[richsadams]

Here is my comment to Amazon:
"I have been an Amazon customer since 1997 and am an owner of two TiVo DVRs both network-connected. I was excited to learn of the Unbox downloads for TiVo. However, both my wife and I are hearing impaired, and we require Closed Captioning in the shows we watch. We have tried some of the Unbox offerings, movies and shows ("Dreamgirls", "Bionic Woman") but unless the actor is looking directly at the camera, speaking clearly and with no background noise or music, we can't make out what they are saying.

Please do not reply with the canned response that you have sent others. I've heard the line about how Unbox content depends on your agreements with the content owners and you are working to improve those agreements. Hogwash. That is pure "spin".

If the content owners are not providing you with media files that have CCs, when everyone knows the content is CCd for other media (broadcast and DVDs) you should let them know in no uncertain terms they are not providing the full value of the same content and you won't pay what they are asking for it. Then you should discount non-CC media to your Unbox customers.

I believe Amazon would score a major public relations coup with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community by announcing that your Unbox downloads for PCs and TiVos will now be Closed Captioned and non-CCd media will be discounted.

As an electrical engineer, I understand there are multiple format for Closed-Captions in streaming media. However, since your downloads are basically WMV files, the SAMI format seems to be the leader, and it is a simple matter for your content providers to convert their existing captions to SAMI.

If in the long run, Amazon cannot get content provider to supply CC media files, then you at the very least should provide to Unbox purchasers a transcript of the content.

Again, I've seen your canned response. Please address the issues I've raised.
Unless you are able to get CCd content for Unbox, or Transcripts, my family won't be purchasing Unbox titles."

We will see.Well done! :up: It'll be interesting to see their response.

[Bierboy]

Yes, please post their response (if they send you one).

[phox_mulder]

I know I've seen estimated numbers before, but anyone know how big the Deaf/HOH consumer base is?
How the demographics skew, both age and income?

Maybe throwing some numbers at Amazon might sway them.

I would think that Deaf/HOH consumers rely on interent shopping a bit more than their hearing counterparts, and Amazon is basically an internet based shopping mall.
How many customers would Amazon lose if the Deaf/HOH community rallied and boycotted?
Or more importantly, how many would Amazon think they would lose if a boycott came about?


phox

[fortt3]

"Thank you for writing to us about subtitles and Amazon Unbox videos.

Unfortunately our content providers do not offer subtitles at this time. The availability of content through our Amazon Unbox service depends on our agreements and arrangements with various content owners. We are constantly working to establish and improve these agreements so we can offer the largest range of content possible.

If the original movie does not have subtitles as a part of the film itself, the Amazon Unbox version will not include subtitles. Customer service is not in a position to make changes to our agreements and arrangements with content owners. Likewise, we cannot make promises that other departments will make changes at our request. I will however pass your feedback along to the correct departments for consideration.

It is always important for us to hear how customers react to all aspects of shopping at Amazon. Strong customer feedback like yours helps us continue to improve the selection and service we provide, and we appreciate the time you took to write to us.

While we may not currently offer a service that completely meets your expectations, we hope to be able to better serve you in the future.

Thank you for your interest in Amazon Unbox video downloads on Amazon.

Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question."

Typical.

[Ruth]

I am HOH although I only need the captions intermittently, depending on the quality of the sound and the actors, etc. I find this very disappointing. Especially with the NBC previews. I can understand that if they offer movies that don't come captioned, they are not going to caption them. But you cannot tell me that NBC isn't going to caption their new shows! In fact they are required by law to do so. Why would amazon not include that information with the DLs?

[syounger64]

Yeah I am still very disappointed at the BS about not being able to provide captions.

That was a great letter by richsadams...well written and raised good points too. :up:

The NBC episodes not being captioned was a huge letdown then TIVO offers the "The Big Bang Theory" pilot captioned?!?!?!? Gimme a break! :confused:

We need to keep up the fight and hope we arent still complaining by the NEXT Fall season because I'm sure almost all shows will be online with previews too!

[richsadams]

"Thank you for writing to us about subtitles and Amazon Unbox videos.

Unfortunately our content providers do not offer subtitles at this time. The availability of content through our Amazon Unbox service depends on our agreements and arrangements with various content owners. We are constantly working to establish and improve these agreements so we can offer the largest range of content possible.

If the original movie does not have subtitles as a part of the film itself, the Amazon Unbox version will not include subtitles. Customer service is not in a position to make changes to our agreements and arrangements with content owners. Likewise, we cannot make promises that other departments will make changes at our request. I will however pass your feedback along to the correct departments for consideration.

It is always important for us to hear how customers react to all aspects of shopping at Amazon. Strong customer feedback like yours helps us continue to improve the selection and service we provide, and we appreciate the time you took to write to us.

While we may not currently offer a service that completely meets your expectations, we hope to be able to better serve you in the future.

Thank you for your interest in Amazon Unbox video downloads on Amazon.

Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question."

Typical.Well...that says maybe but at least they're responding. I particularly like this line though...

Customer service is not in a position to make changes to our agreements and arrangements with content owners. Really? :rolleyes: You mean people that can actually make decisions and sign legal papers might need to be involved? Sorry...but what a silly statement. Passing feedback like ours on to the folks in charge is job one I would think.

IMHO the bottom line is that whoever drew up the agreements between Amazon and the content providers dropped the ball. CC's should have been a requisite from the start.

Thanks for making some noise! :up: Hopefully others will write to Amazon as well to force the issue. Once again, here is Amazon’s contact link:

Amazon Customer Help/Contact Web Page. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/features-and-services.html/103-9100862-5927059?ie=)

[MickeS]

"If the original movie does not have subtitles as a part of the film itself, the Amazon Unbox version will not include subtitles."

Huh? Other than foreign language movies, which movies have "subtitles as a part of the film itself"? Virtually ALL programming is subtitled. IMO there is NO excuse for Amazon to blame this on content providers.

[phox_mulder]

Subtitles and Closed Captioning are two different things.

Someone at Amazon doesn't know the difference.

I blame DVDs for some of this confusion, as they refer to them as Subtitles.

I've seen more than a few DVD's that had Closed Captioning embedded, then had English Subtitles as an option.



phox

[rambler]

Hot Fuzz was really tough to follow without the captions....

[bicker]

Despite several attempts, Amazon.com REFUSES to reply with anything other than the canned response. They have the gall to include the "Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question." message, even on the reply to my message saying that their canned response was unsatisfactory. I'm going to continue to tell them that their reply is unsatisfactory, and suggest everyone else do the same. Hopefully, the cycle will eventually get escalated.