Why do some DVD’s not have subtitles?
One of the questions that keeps coming up among the Hear2day community is around the issue of subtitling on DVD’s in South Africa. Why do some DVD’s have subtitles and others don’t? Why can’t all DVD’s have subtitles? It would seem that subtitles are available on nearly all DVD’s that are manufactured intentionally, but when it comes to locally supplied DVD’s, it’s a different story. Hear2day has tried to make it easier for people who rent movies from Mr VIDEO by running a campaign where every DVD with subtitles has a sticker easily identifying that subtitles are available. This is a start, but the real issue needs to be addressed at on a supply level.
We wrote to NuMetro and asked them why not all DVD’s which they release here in SA have subtitles available. This is there response:
Nu Metro Home Entertainment represents five international studios (Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount / Dreamworks, Universal, BBC) plus a large slate of independently produced content (both local and international content) which they release each month. Almost all content from the international studios is subtitled for DVD release.
Product from the Independent slate is handled differently. When bringing in the material for subtitling, we have encountered problems due to the conversion process required from NTSC to Pal and the time frame that we have to complete this in. Due to piracy issues, we cannot delay a release for 3 or 4 weeks in order to get this conversion done. All DVDs (both rental and retail) specify on the sleeve whether the DVD is in fact subtitled and for which languages. This is checked locally and every effort is made to ensure that the information on the sleeve is 100% correct. Nu Metro Home Entertainment would never choose to remove or not include subtitles on any DVDs since extra features are a strong selling tool.Nu Metro Home Entertainment represents five international studios (Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount / Dreamworks, Universal, BBC) plus a large slate of independently produced content (both local and international content) which they release each month. Almost all content from the international studios is subtitled for DVD release. Product from the Independent slate is handled differently. When bringing in the material for subtitling, we have encountered problems due to the conversion process required from NTSC to Pal and the time frame that we have to complete this in. Due to piracy issues, we cannot delay a release for 3 or 4 weeks in order to get this conversion done. All DVDs (both rental and retail) specify on the sleeve whether the DVD is in fact subtitled and for which languages. This is checked locally and every effort is made to ensure that the information on the sleeve is 100% correct.
Nu Metro Home Entertainment would never choose to remove or not include subtitles on any DVDs since extra features are a strong selling tool.
We will continue to pursue this issue and try and gain a better understanding, but for now we need to continue with our investigation. We don’t think that enough emphasis is being placed on the importance of subtitles, not only for the deaf community, but also the vast community that doesn’t have English as their first language. Onwards and upwards.
The explanation provided by Nu Metro is superficial and completely unacceptable. There is no problem in them releasing the bulk of the new movies on time and then completing the subtitles for a % of the them to be released a little later on OR preferably to invest in technology solutions to ensure that the subtitling is done in the minimum period of time to ensure release on time. This is not a problem in the rest of the World, why only in South Africa? I think that it is time to take them on regarding this issue to force them to stop discriminating against persons with a hearing loss or persons where English is not a first language.
I was given a DVD of “The King’s Speech” which shows it has sub-titles.This cannot be activated though and remains permanently OFF as opposed to other sub-titled DVD’s.I must presume a manufacturing fault, but very frustrating.
Hi k i
Most annoying and frustrating, especially as that is one movie where it is absolutely essential that you pick up every word. If the DVD was one produced by Nu Metro, I think it would be good for you as an outsider (as opposed to one of us at Hear2day) to contact Nu Metro to ask them what went wrong with the King’s Speech. We can let you have the contact information if you need it. You are very welcome to join Hear2day and if interested you can email Andrea at hello@hear2day.co.za