Where Has the TV Captioning Gone?

KIPDA Area Agency on Aging and
Independent Living

April 1, 2009

Big changes are coming to broadcast television. On June 12, 2009, all full-power broadcast television stations are required to stop broadcasting in analog and continue broadcasting in digital only. This is known as the digital television (DTV) transition.

The transition to digital TV and the end of analog TV is resulting in major improvements in television. But there are difficulties, especially related to captioning and how that will work during and following the transition. Whether you're going to try to keep your analog TVs up and running or move to the exciting high-definition digital TVs, which are now becoming cost competitive, you will need to learn a lot about what the changes mean to you. Check out the features and convenience of TVs, STBs, converters, cables, etc.

Not Everyone Will Be Affected by the DTV Transition in the Same Manner.

If you own an Analog TV
- With over the air (antenna) broadcasts, you will need a converter box.
- Some (not all) digital to analog converter boxes can generate and display digital closed captions to analog.
- Check the user manual that comes with the converter box before purchasing.
If you are connected to cable or satellite, contact your provider.
Digital TVs without a built in digital tuner may be dependent on the auxiliary box for captioning.
Some televisions (such as "cable ready" TVs) are connected directly to a pay television service and do not require a set-top box. These televisions control the receipt and display of closed captions.
Follow the instructions that come with the television and turn closed captions on/off through the television or with the remote control that comes with the television.
Some televisions are connected to a pay service via a set-top box.
- Some (not all set top boxes) can generate and display digital closed captions. Check the user manual for your set-top box.

What Will Work with What?

Analog TVs Will Continue To Work with:

Cable Set Top Box (STB)
Satellite STB
Digital/Analog Converter (which receive digital broadcasts via antenna)
Antennas will also receive analog broadcasts until June 12, 2009. After that, a converter box will change the digital back to analog for old TVs.
Current VCRs and DVDs will work (with some limitations)

Digital HD TVs Will Work with:

Cable (with or without STB)
Satellite STB
Antenna (if nearby digital stations exist)
Current and Future VCRs and DVDs (with some limitations)

Note: Firewire, DVI jacks and plugs, optical plugs, etc., which connect the computer to the TV will not necessarily support captioning. Check the manual or ask to make sure the connective wiring of accessories that you use support captioning.

Problems with Closed Captions

All TVs, 13 inch or larger, manufactured after June 1993, should be capable of receiving captioning.

If you are using a digital-to-analog converter box and no captions are visible:

Check your manual
Contact the converter box manufacturer.
If you see a double row of overlapping captions, captions are being generated by both the set-top box and the TV. (Turn one of the captionings off.)

If the captions are visible on one channel, but not on another channel, this is most likely related to the program provider.

Contact the television station.
Contact your provider.
Contact the FCC at closedcaptioning@fcc.gov

If captioning is visible on one TV in the house but not another:

Check the TV manual.
Check the Set-Top Box manual.
Contact your provider.
Contact your manufacturers.

If there are no captions on any station:

Check your manuals to turn on captions.
Contact neighbors, friends, family with the same and different providers. See what is the same/different.
Contact your manufacturers.
Contact your cable/satellite provider.
When talking to providers, check to see which captioning is involved (608 is analog; 708 is digital).
Contact the FCC (1-888-225-5322).

Complaint Process

Maintain records of all contacts
Contact provider first: the cable/satellite provider is responsible for investigating captioning problems, per FCC Regulations; however, the provider of the program is responsible for providing the captioning of the program itself.
Write letters (in addition to phone calls, e-mails). Copy to station and network.
Within (not after) 45 days forward to FCC:
- Name
- Contact number and e-mail
- City, state, county
- Local cable/satellite provider if any
- Digital/analog cable
- Network involved
- Program in question
- Episode number if known
- Date/time of airing; time of problem
- Specific problem
- Is the same problem visible in the commercial?
- Standard Digital feed or High Definition?
- Non HD channel or HDTV?

Coupon Program

In order to help consumers pay for digital-to-analog converter boxes, the federal government is offering each U.S. household up to two $40 coupons that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes. The number of coupons available is limited and applications must be received by July 31, 2009. (You only need a digital-to-analog converter box if you receive broadcasts via an antenna.)