Timed Text Specifications (applies to both Closed Captions & Subtitles)

Display:

• All timed text MUST be Pop-on or Pop-up

Duration:

• Minimum duration: 10 frames per text event
• Maximum duration: 10 seconds per text event (except for song lyrics or on-screen text, which may exceed 10 seconds)
• Timed text must not remain on screen during times of silence.
• An outpoint must be used to remove the timed text from the screen during silence or extended pauses.

Frame Gaps:

• 2 frames minimum (regardless of frame rate)

Positional Data:

• All timed text should be center justified / center positioned and placed at bottom of the screen unless covering text or a lower third graphic in which they should be at the top of the screen.

Reading Speed:

• Adult programs: 400 words per minute
• Children’s programs: 160 words per minute.

Timing:

• Text should be timed to the audio or within 2-3 frames of the audio. If more on-screen time is needed for better reading speed, the out-time can be extended up to 10 or 12 frames past the timecode at which the audio ends.

Formatting:

• Text should be provided without any text effects including bolding, italicizing and underlining.

Speaker ID and Sound Effect:

• Use brackets [ ] to enclose speaker IDs or sound effects.
• Only use speaker IDs or sound effects when they cannot be visually identified.
• Use a generic ID to indicate and describe ambient music (e.g., rock music playing over a stereo). Sound effects should be plot pertinent.
• If video is a concert, lyrics must be present on screen when sung, surrounded by the ♪