Why transcription and closed captioning are important in media

Broadcast media is an industry of information and entertainment. They exist with the sole aim of distributing various contents to interested viewers and the general public. These contents could be broadcasted through auditory or visual means. The goal is simple; communicate, spread information, and make sure it is done easily for a diverse audience to understand and receive. While communication is one of man’s daily activities, it is not exactly the easiest to pull off. This is why there are a few things to take note of if broadcast media aims to communicate effectively. Two services that aid communication and help make things better for broadcast media are transcription and closed-captioning. What important role do these two services play in broadcast media? How do they help to improve coverage and boost ratings? Let’s answer these questions and more.

Why do you need transcription and closed captioning?

Here are some reasons why broadcast media need transcription and closed captioning.

Broadcasting Regulations

By order of various broadcasting bodies, there is a directive that closed captioning must be provided for most programs broadcasted on television. The Federal Communication Commission has given a clear directive on this. Failure to comply would lead to sanctions. Broadcast media have to comply with these regulations. Some of the regulations include the following.

1. High-Quality Captions

It is not enough to provide captions on the screen; they have to be of high quality. High-quality captions must be provided throughout the length of the program. This is compulsory for all programs except short news and announcements. They should capture words, gestures, and signs as much as possible.

2. Accurate Captions

Sometimes, it is better and safer not to have information than have a misinterpreted version or an incomplete version. This is why the captions also have to be accurate. The accuracy should be in text and also in time. Synchronization is essential. The caption has to appear on the screen when appropriate. Failure to do so would lead to inaccurate closed captioning.

3. Proper size and placement

It should also be placed on the screen to make it easier for the viewers reading the caption without playing over the essential part of the broadcast.

What transcription services are offered for television?

They are two basic transcription services available for television broadcast media. These are transcription and closed captioning. Let us elaborate on the meaning of these two services and explain how the two are different.

1. Transcription

Transcription, in simple terms, is the conversion of recorded video content to text that is made available for others. Editors, analysts, and interested audiences tend to use a transcript at one point in time. Some programs are produced without a script. The audio version of these programs is transcribed into text. Then they are made available online for viewers.

When journalists and other broadcasters gather information through research, reporting, and interviews, they often have to sit through the research to summarize it and extract the necessary information. Transcription is needed for this important step. This is why it is a major service for television broadcast media.

Closed captioning

Closed captioning, in broadcast media, involves converting what is being broadcasted to text and made available on screen for the viewers. It is quite different from the subtitles. Subtitles are prepared along with the program before broadcasting. And they are embedded in the video. Closed captioning is mostly done with live programs. The caption has to be provided simultaneously as the speakers speak. This is why closed captioning is different and takes a level of expertise. The input has to be immediate and instantaneous, just like the program.

Television broadcast media now have to include closed captioning in their services to include the diverse audience in the scheme of things. Programs like reality shows and debates are broadcasted live and without a script. These are examples of situations where closed captioning comes in handy for television broadcast media.

It is important to note that closed captioning is not a replacement for transcription. Broadcast media houses can provide transcription and closed captioning for the same television program. The two are made available for different purposes.

What benefits does transcription offer for broadcast media

Transcription and closed captioning do more than just provide text to read or display. They contribute immensely to the growth of broadcast media. Here are some benefits of using these services.

1. Growing your audience

The goal of broadcast media is to increase their audience and spread information to all. Some of these audiences do not have the opportunity to tune into a program at the time of broadcasting. Transcription makes it possible for them to enjoy the program in text format. This is available online, and they can read it at any time. If one should miss their favorite show of the week, transcription ensures that all is not lost. One can still read the recap and get the necessary information before the time for the next series.

Those that have hearing issues will also be able to enjoy the information provided due to transcription. They can read the program and enjoy the information or entertainment provided like the rest of the world—another simple way of increasing your audience.

2. Content analysis

For programs that are pre-recorded, there is a need to analyze the content before broadcasting. Without transcription, analysts would have to watch the program several times before they can analyze and give a report. This issue is nonexistent, thanks to transcription.

3. SEO boost

Today, the internet provides search engine features that make it possible for the audience to search for their favorite programs from options numbering up to thousands. When a program is transcribed, the use of keywords makes it easy for the audience to search for such a program. This will boost search optimization, making it easier for people to find.

How to transcribe your television media

The importance of transcription and its benefits are reasons why a broadcast media should employ the services of experts in transcription and closed captioning. It needs to be accurate and efficient. Employ our professionals at Amberscript and enjoy the best quality services available.

The steps involved in transcription are as follows.

• Log onto our Amberscript website and select your preferred services.
• Upload your pre-recorded program
• The transcription starts immediately by means of an automatic text generator.
• The transcription is provided in minutes.
• Download or export the text in your preferred format.

In these simple steps, you have the accurate, high-quality text ready to serve various purposes.

Radio broadcast media is another section of the media industry that continues to evolve. Radio broadcasters also make use of transcription services for several reasons.

How transcription helps radio broadcasters

1. Hard of Hearing Audience

There are no screens in radio broadcast media, which means there are no subtitles or closed captioning. Transcription is the only means available for those with hearing issues to enjoy the information and entertainment provided by radio broadcasters. This makes transcription very important for this type of audience. Transcription helps them to engage with the programs and enjoy every bit of it. It also increases the number of audiences and boosts the ratings of the radio broadcast media.

2. Search Options

Transcription helps the audience to search through various radio programs using keywords. It also gives the audience the opportunity to read through a new program and get an idea of what is discussed.

3. Convenience

Transcription provides convenience for a wide variety of audiences. It makes it easier for them to enjoy what is being broadcasted at a time that is convenient for them. You can read the transcript of your favorite program if you miss it. Transcription also makes it possible to revisit a program and clarify misconceptions.

What services are offered for radio broadcasts?

Transcription is the major service available for radio broadcasters. They are available in two different formats. Automatic transcription – which makes use of AI text generator software to provide text in minutes. The second is manual transcription. This service makes use of professionals to help transcribe the audio programs.

How to transcribe radio media

Transcription services for radio media are something we do expertly at Amberscript. We are readily available to convert your audio content to text.

Here are simple steps to transcribe your audio

• Visit our website and select the service offer of your choice
• Upload your audio file on the platform provided
• Transcription starts automatically through an AI software system.
• The text is ready in a few minutes.
• Download the file in any of the available formats.

As simple as that, you have a complete transcription of your files ready to be uploaded for users and the general audience.

Amberscript

More about us

We at Amberscript aim to make communication more efficient across different platforms. We make use of experts and professionals to give you the best services available.

Here are some reasons why you should make use of our services

• We offer security for your audio and video content
• Our transcription services are fast and accurate. Making it possible for you to transcribe urgent contents without delay.
• We work with different audio and video formats. We also provide various text formats for download.

Today, broadcast media have to do all they can to stay ahead of the curve and continue to increase their audience. The use of closed captioning and transcription makes this possible. As a broadcast media house, you must employ professionals to help with these services. Here at Amberscript, we offer you the best.