Subtitles in TV shows and commercials: Why are they so important and how to automate them

76

Subtitles have become an essential part of TV video content. From commercials to reality shows, adding text to the visual media can significantly boost the channel’s engagement. So, why is that the case? And, how can TV production companies automate this process? In this article, we will discuss that and more.

Why do subtitles matter?

Unlike what many think, subtitles aren’t just for those with hearing impairments any more. In fact, a recent study found that about half of all American population have subtitles on most of the time when watching television. Not only that, this trend is particularly the case among younger viewers, with around 70% of all Gen Z viewers using the subtitle functionality!

But why is that the case? Well, there are a few reasons, but here are the main ones:

• Understanding different accents or dialects
• Watching content in noisy environments
• Learning new languages
• Hearing every word in fast-paced dialogues

For TV producers, this means subtitles can actually increase viewer retention and engagement.

How to add subtitles automatically

Luckily, the days when all subtitles had to be added manually are now over. Today, you can add subtitles automatically using advanced AI solutions. 

Here’s how that works:

1. Use a reliable automatic subtitle generator

ScriptMe.io is a reliable tool used by many well-known organisations. This platform offers the easiest and most accurate way to add subtitles to your videos with the help of smart AI technology. 

1. Upload your video

ScriptMe.io automatic subtitle generator is easy to use. Simply upload your video directly into their platform. It accepts numerous different video formats, so you don’t have to worry about that. 

1. Let AI work its magic

Once uploaded, the AI will convert video to text, and generate time-stamped subtitles. This process is incredibly quick and takes just a few minutes for most videos. 

1. Review and edit

While AI is impressive, it’s not always perfect. It’s always a good idea to review the generated subtitles for accuracy and make any edits needed before using them. This can be done inside the platform itself, for added convenience.

1. Download and apply

Once you are satisfied with the subtitles, you can download them in your preferred format and add them to your video. Simple as that!

Benefits of using an automatic subtitle generator

One of the primary reasons you should use an automatic subtitle generator is the time that it saves. Doing this task manually can take many hours, but ScriptMe.io will do the job in just minutes. The review and editing process not take anywhere near as long.

Additionally, automation can also result in a much more cost-effective process. ScriptMe.io offers monthly subscriptions with fixed pricing, which includes a certain amount of hours of video you can generate into subtitles. This will often result in lower costs than hiring professional subtitle creators or outsourcing the job. 

What’s more, platforms like ScriptMe.io offer a multilingual support, meaning that they not only transcribe video in the original language, but also can translate to multiple other languages. This will expand your content’s audience potential and make it accessible to a lot more people.

Lastly, when you convert your videos to text, you help your content become more SEO-friendly. Search engines like Google struggle to analyse video content but, when there are subtitles present, it can use the text to understand what the content is about and pick out the main keywords to rank it for. This is particularly important to TV productions that use online on-demand platforms or YouTube videos. 

Tips on maximising the impact of subtitles and transcripts

Just generating subtitles is not enough. There are other ways to ensure that their impact is as effective as possible when added to TV shows or commercials. Here are some top tips:

• User proper formatting – Your subtitles should be easy to read. Therefore, always use a clear font and formatting, limiting the number of characters in each line to the optimal amount.
   
• Pick the right colour – Although many subtitles are white, some productions will also use yellow or black subtitles. This depends on your video and the hues that are most present in it. The subtitle colour should be contracting the background, so it is as readable as possible.
   
• Timing is everything – Reading subtitles should feel natural and seamless as you watch TV. Therefore, they should appear in sync with the audio, with no delays. Most automatic tools will handle this for you, but it should also be a part of the review process.
   
• Include sound effects – For TV shows and reality TV, relevant sound effects should be included in your subtitles. Whether it’s a hard-of-hearing viewer or someone who is watching the show in quiet mode, this will improve their experience watching the show too. 

Final word

Subtitles in TV are no longer an option extra that is purely aimed at those with disabilities – they are now a commonly used feature among viewers of all ages. Companies working in TV production must consider this if they want to succeed, and automating this process with ScriptMe.io is one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to go about it.