Samsung TV has many features that create the best video content viewing experience. Closed captioning and subtitles are some of these features. Today, almost all streaming services and video platforms have closed captioning built in.

The reason for this is an urgent need for some people with hearing problems. However, many people have a lot of questions about why Samsung TV began to broadcast closed captioning instead of subtitles. At the same time, it’s worth understanding what the difference is.

What are subtitles?

Subtitles have existed on almost all TV for quite some time. Subtitles are text accompanying a video sequence of characters’ words on the screen. It’s a visualization of the dialogues in a movie. Subtitles were originally designed to help people with severe hearing loss.

Nowadays, subtitles are used quite often for learning foreign languages. Foreign films with the original voiceover help to better understand speech by hearing. Subtitles can be in the viewer’s native language as well as the original language or even both.

At the same time, it’s sometimes necessary to watch videos without sound. Some people don’t have the sound on while watching because they are in a public place and don’t want to disturb their family or neighbors. In many public places, the TV broadcasts the video with subtitles so as not to distract visitors.

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What is closed captioning?

Many people think that closed captioning and subtitles are practically the same thing, but they aren’t. The difference is so keenly felt by hearing-impaired people. Because closed-captioning opens up more possibilities for these people.

The reason for this is that closed captioning implies the ability to see other sounds on the screen, in addition to the text track of the dialogue. That is, closed captions describe all the smallest details that allow a person with impaired hearing to understand absolutely everything that happens in the video.

This can be a knock at the door, gusts of wind, or a cough, all the sounds are also described in the text. So closed captioning is more advanced, giving a greater perception of the film.

What is the difference between closed captions and subtitles?

Many people may think that the only difference is that closed captioning creates more opportunities to understand all the details of the film. However, that’s not all that’s different.

Subtitles are encoded into the video, while closed captions exist as separate files. Subtitles are always on the screen – they are an integral part of the movie or TV show. Closed captions can be turned off. They are added to the video stream as text or images.

A separate type of subtitles is pre-rendered subtitles which are encoded as images. They are used on DVD and Blu-ray. They don’t require special equipment or technology as long as the device can play the video. However, for closed captioning, you need a player with the right format.

So the main difference is that closed captions can be turned on and off. That is why they are more often used by operators and streaming services. Whereas subtitles are embedded in the video and cannot be turned off.

How to turn off closed captioning on your Samsung TV?

It’s not uncommon for closed captions to interfere with the viewing of some content. If you don’t have a hearing impairment and it’s not an urgent need you can turn off the closed captions on your Samsung TV. To do so, follow these steps:

• The first step is to turn on your Samsung TV.
• Next, go to the TV settings and select ‘General’.
• Then you need to select ‘Accessibility’.
• Select ‘Subtitles’ and click on the green button to make it appear gray.

After these steps, the text will no longer be displayed on your screen, allowing you to avoid distractions while watching some video content.

Read also:

• How to add subtitles in a PowerPoint presentation
• How to turn on Demo Mode, Retail Mode, or Store Mode on Samsung TV
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Do all TVs have closed captioning?

In fact, yes, today almost all modern TVs have a closed captioning function. Closed captioning was created for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to help with comprehension. They can also be used as a tool by those who are learning, learning to speak in a non-native language, or in an environment where sound is hard to hear or intentionally muted.

It’s for these reasons that most TV companies are required to have closed captioning built in, primarily to create more opportunities for the hearing impaired. There are also many different reasons why people use it for their convenience.

Closed captioning is also used in public places, such as bars and restaurants, where customers can be heard through background noise or when TV sets are showing different programs. So nowadays it’s almost impossible to find a device that prevents you from using this function.