Learn the basics of how to add closed captions to online video to make it fully accessible, searchable, and SEO-friendly.

1. Captioning with
3Play Media
💬 To view live captions, please click the CC icon
✋ Type questions in the Q&A window during the presentation
⏺ This webinar is being recorded & will be available for replay
📱 www.3playmedia.com l @3playmedia l #a11y

2. Introductions
Let’s get to know each other
Kelly Mahoney
󰠁 Content Marketing Associate
✏ I create content on accessibility & the
cutting edge of captioning
📬 Reach me: kellym@3playmedia.com

3. Agenda
What are captions? Who is 3Play Media? Q&A

4. What are Captions?
Defining the basics

5. THE BASICS:
Time-synchronized
Usually noted with a capital-CC icon
Accommodation for deaf &
hard of hearing viewers
Mandated by the FCC in the 1980s
Include non-speech elements
Relevant sound effects, speakers IDs, etc.

6. Captions assume the
viewer can’t hear the
audio.
Subtitles translate
the audio into
another language.
Transcripts contain
text of the audio that
isn’t time-coded.
CAPTIONS vs. SUBTITLES vs. TRANSCRIPTS

7. CREATING CAPTIONS
Use ASR (Automatic Speech
Recognition)
Editable and downloadable transcripts
Use a captioning vendor
Look for a guarantee of 99% accuracy
Do it yourself
Transcription + timecodes

8. 99% accuracy rate
15 errors total per 1,500
words
Placement
Should move if obstructing
important visual elements
Verbatim or clean
read?
CAPTION QUALITY MATTERS
Frame requirements
1-3 lines, with 32 characters per
line; last a minimum of 1 second
on screen
Style requirements
Non-serif font
DCMP, FCC, and/or
WCAG standards

9. PUBLISHING CAPTIONS
Sidecar file
Most common; user ability to toggle captions on/off
Encoded captions
For offline video; can be toggled on/off by user
Open captions
For social video; burned into video and cannot be
turned off
Integrations
Preset workflows to streamline captioning process

10. What are Live Captions?
Let’s define the basics

11. THE BASICS
In real time
For live events and meetings
Automatic software or a
human captioner
Slight latency
Computer processing or stenographer
typing

12. CART
Communication Access
Real-Time Translation
ASR
Automated Speech
Recognition
TERMS TO KNOW
LPC
Live Professional
Captioning

13. 80% - 95%
accuracy rate
Ranges depending on
automatic vs. human and ‘live’
environment
Latency
Live captions typically
appear with a slight latency
between the spoken words
and the captioned output
No governing body
for live captioning
CAPTION QUALITY MATTERS

14. BEST PRACTICES
Strong network connection
Good quality audio
Preferably use a microphone
Little to no background noise
Use blankets to muffle sound
Single speaker
With clear speech and pronunciation

15. Video Platform
Allows you to host
captions natively
Integrations
Seamlessly incorporate
a captioning workflow
STREAMING CAPTIONS

16. State of ASR Report
Dive into the findings at 3playmedia.com
Humans are crucial
Especially if you care about quality,
SEO, and branding
99% Accuracy
Live automatic captions range from
80%-95%
ARE LIVE CAPTIONS GOOD
ENOUGH?

17. What are the
benefits of
Captioning?

18. Accessibility
There are 48 million
Americans with hearing loss
SEO
135% greater organic traffic
for videos with captions
according to Facebook
Branding
Captions improve brand recall,
verbal memory, and
behavioral intent
BENEFITS OF CAPTIONING
Comprehension
98.6% of students find
captions helpful
Focus
65% of students use
captions to help them focus
Engagement
92% of users are watching
videos on mobile with no
sound

19. A11Y LAWS
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 and Section 508
Americans with Disabilities Act
Title II and Title III
CVAA
21st Century Communications & Video
Accessibility Act
FCC
Caption quality standards for broadcast

20. Level A
Transcript for audio-only
content; captions for
pre-recorded video;
audio or text alternative
for audio description
Level AA
Captions for pre-recorded;
captions for live; audio
description for
pre-recorded video
WEB CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES
Level AAA
Extended audio
description; low or no
background audio;
ability to navigate by
keyboard alone

21. Who is 3Play?
More than just captioning

22. Technological Innovation
Cutting edge AI and machine
learning technology
3PLAY MEDIA
Professional Editors
Trained caption editors with varying
areas of expertise

23. OUR SERVICES
Closed Captioning & Transcription
99% accuracy guaranteed; flexible workflows
Live Captioning
Professional and automatic captioning options
Subtitles & Translation
20+ language to choose from
Audio description
Innovative, cost-effective solution

24. Scalability
We have a deadline
compliance 99.9% & can
process large quantities of
files
Upgrade anytime
Easily request new services to
ensure your content stays
compliant
Account Management
Your dedicated account
manager can help review your
goals and keep you
up-to-date with accessibility
news
Flexibility
We can accommodate
numerous workflows, formats,
and turnaround times to match
your needs
FUTURE-PROOF SOLUTION

25. Resource Portal
Weekly blogs, free ebooks
checklists, and research
studies
Monthly Webinars
Taught by accessibility experts
BROWSE OUR FREE RESOURCES
Allied Podcast
Hear from accessibility
professionals on topics
across industries

26. Live Professional
Captioning Launch
Party
February 2 at 2pm EST
Intro to Audio
Description
February 17 at 2pm EST
UPCOMING FREE EVENTS
Going Beyond the
Listener: Accessible
Audio for Podcasting
January 27 at 2pm EST
ACCESS Boston 2022
March 29 at 9am EST

27. Q&A
Ask us anything