“Your subtitles will look like this”: Exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platforms

In recent years, the rise of streaming platforms and Over-The-Top (OTT) services has redefined the landscape of audiovisual content consumption, introducing a wealth of entertainment options that encompasses not only dubbed and subtitled versions but alsocaptioned and audio-described mate...

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Main Author: Gabriele Uzzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Western Sydney University 2025-07-01
Series:Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/2094/523
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author Gabriele Uzzo
author_facet Gabriele Uzzo
author_sort Gabriele Uzzo
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the rise of streaming platforms and Over-The-Top (OTT) services has redefined the landscape of audiovisual content consumption, introducing a wealth of entertainment options that encompasses not only dubbed and subtitled versions but alsocaptioned and audio-described materials. A key trend among most Video on Demand (VoD) and OTT platforms is the availability of customisable subtitle options, as noted by Bucaria (2021). These features enable users to tailor their viewing experience according to individual preferences, reflecting the growing emphasis on personalisation as a crucial aspect of user interaction (Sanchez, 2015). This adaptability allows viewers to modify parameters such as font, size, colour, and background, contributing to a more comfortable and engaging viewing experience. However, the linguistic and paralinguistic attributes of subtitles typically follow the specific guidelines set by each platform.Drawing on validated reception studies in this field, this article examines the complex relationship between stylistic choices in closed captions (CC) among the Italian d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community. Todo so, a comprehensive questionnaire was designed to gauge the nuanced preferences and levels of satisfaction among DHH users, exploring whether particular CC styles are preferred and to what extent the varied landscape of OTT platforms influences contentengagement. The responses, collected from 139 individuals within the Italian DHH community, provide a robust dataset for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. This data serves as a foundation for evaluating user needs and shaping recommendations for the optimal design and presentation of subtitles.
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spelling doaj-art-8d0a3ac9e63b443a8a5b311ef865cdef2025-08-20T04:02:50ZengWestern Sydney UniversityTranslation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research1836-93242025-07-01172557210.12807/ti.117202.2025.a04“Your subtitles will look like this”: Exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platformsGabriele Uzzo0University of PalermoIn recent years, the rise of streaming platforms and Over-The-Top (OTT) services has redefined the landscape of audiovisual content consumption, introducing a wealth of entertainment options that encompasses not only dubbed and subtitled versions but alsocaptioned and audio-described materials. A key trend among most Video on Demand (VoD) and OTT platforms is the availability of customisable subtitle options, as noted by Bucaria (2021). These features enable users to tailor their viewing experience according to individual preferences, reflecting the growing emphasis on personalisation as a crucial aspect of user interaction (Sanchez, 2015). This adaptability allows viewers to modify parameters such as font, size, colour, and background, contributing to a more comfortable and engaging viewing experience. However, the linguistic and paralinguistic attributes of subtitles typically follow the specific guidelines set by each platform.Drawing on validated reception studies in this field, this article examines the complex relationship between stylistic choices in closed captions (CC) among the Italian d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community. Todo so, a comprehensive questionnaire was designed to gauge the nuanced preferences and levels of satisfaction among DHH users, exploring whether particular CC styles are preferred and to what extent the varied landscape of OTT platforms influences contentengagement. The responses, collected from 139 individuals within the Italian DHH community, provide a robust dataset for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. This data serves as a foundation for evaluating user needs and shaping recommendations for the optimal design and presentation of subtitles.https://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/2094/523captionsdeaf and hard of hearingitalyott platformsappearancepreference
spellingShingle Gabriele Uzzo
“Your subtitles will look like this”: Exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platforms
Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research
captions
deaf and hard of hearing
italy
ott platforms
appearance
preference
title “Your subtitles will look like this”: Exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platforms
title_full “Your subtitles will look like this”: Exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platforms
title_fullStr “Your subtitles will look like this”: Exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platforms
title_full_unstemmed “Your subtitles will look like this”: Exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platforms
title_short “Your subtitles will look like this”: Exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platforms
title_sort your subtitles will look like this exploring user preferences for closed captions across streaming platforms
topic captions
deaf and hard of hearing
italy
ott platforms
appearance
preference
url https://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/2094/523
work_keys_str_mv AT gabrieleuzzo yoursubtitleswilllooklikethisexploringuserpreferencesforclosedcaptionsacrossstreamingplatforms