ATV, TVB should expand captioning, says group
All English-language programmes broadcast on the two terrestrial television networks should carry English subtitles, the government's language think-tank has proposed.
However, television industry insiders say that the proposal, by the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, would create problems and interfere with viewer enjoyment.
They pointed out that English-language programmes already carry Chinese subtitles and the addition of English would mean that a large part of the screen would be covered in text.
The call follows a Broadcasting Authority review last year on whether the English subtitles requirement should be expanded. This was followed by the release in December of a public consultation paper on subtitle requirements for English-language programmes provided by domestic free television service licensees.
ATV and TVB are required to provide English subtitles on their English-language channels for news, weather, current affairs and public announcements in addition to the two hours of English-language programmes 'with educational value targeting teenagers' per week.