Entertainment
Channel 4: Why are subtitles missing and how to watch with them
The Great Britsh Bake Off is starting to have subtitles again (Picture: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions)
Channel 4 has been having massive issues with their transmission in recent weeks.
Since the end of September, it transmitted the wrong episode of Married at First Sight after the show also previously fell off the air. As audio issues plagued First Dates and The Great British Bake Off, Gogglebox also was affected by these technical difficulties.
And while the main issues got resolved swiftly, the broadcaster has not been able to reinstate subtitles, audio descriptions and sign language services on their live programmes yet.
But what is causing these problems at Channel 4 and when will they be fixed?
Why are subtitles missing on Channel 4?
In a statement released on Tuesday, Channel 4 explained how ‘on Saturday 25 September, the fire suppression system was triggered at Red Bee Media’s broadcast centre, which transmits all Channel 4’s services’.
As a result, a variety of systems and hardware was severely damaged, and while the emergency backup systems were immediately activated, they are still encountering ‘significant problems’ with providing access service for programmes broadcast since the incident.
Gogglebox episodes are available with subtitles on catch-up (Picture: Jude Edginton)
‘We know that this is incredibly frustrating for you and your families who rely on these services to watch your favourite programmes,’ Channel 4 said in the statement.
The broadcaster also confirmed that while engineers are working around the clock to find out what went wrong and how they can fix it, ‘these services were irretrievably lost during the incident and we won’t be able to restore them until we move to the new system we are building’.
‘Unfortunately, at the moment we cannot provide audio description or sign language services at all,’ they continued.
When will subtitles be back on Channel 4?
Progress is slowly being made on reinstating subtitles on some of the channel’s most popular programmes. Last week it successfully had live subtitles during Stand Up To Cancer, while during the day, Channel 4 has been running tests for captions on both Channel 4 and More4.
This week there will be subtitles on catch-up for Gogglebox, the Great British Bake Off and Extra Slice on All 4.
‘We know this isn’t good enough, but it’s a start,’ a spokesperson for Channel 4 admitted.
Extra Slice is also being given subtitles on recent episodes (Picture: Mark Bourdillon)
As for when subtitles, audio description and sign language services will be permanently reinstated, Channel 4 explained: ‘We have been rebuilding the system over the last few weeks, and there is still a considerable amount of work to be done. We cannot rush this and run the risk of something going wrong.’
In order to prevent the channels from going off-air again, Channel 4 is taking on the process slowly, which will mean that ’full access services might not be available until the middle of November’.
‘Clearly, if we can do anything to speed up this process, we will. We know that this will be incredibly disappointing to everyone, but we do need to get this right.’
Where can I watch Channel 4 with subtitles?
Subtitles are slowly starting to come back on certain live programmes too.
Ahead of last night’s Bake Off, Channel 4 confirmed on Twitter that the show would be available to watch live with subtitles via ‘Watch Live’ on its website as well as the All 4 app on mobile and selected smart TV platforms.
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It’s unclear what other programmes will receive this treatment in the coming days and whether it will continue for the duration of the series.
However, Channel 4 has been keeping viewers updated almost daily on new developments on their Twitter account.
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