thomsen.

One of the issues that has been on the backburner in the back of my brain has been the issue of offering closed captioned on the Internet. For the longest time, the number one argument that seems to be case for not having closed caption on the Internet is that the technology for it is not ready. However, I believe that that time as come. I actually believe that we were ready for closed caption for the Internet two years ago.

The time is now.

Here’s why:

The technology is there. It always has been there since 2006. Seriously, it all started July of 2006 when AOL announced closed caption for online video. Ever since then, the evolution of offering closed caption or subtitle on online video has been transforming at a phenomenal rate. In September of 2006, Google, now one of the most successful internet companies ever, supported closed caption. When President Obama offered closed caption “subtitle” on all his videos when he was campaigning, and still does, even now when he’s trying to send his message to the American people, that just changed how the internet was used forever.

When Google bought YouTube, you just knew that they were going to lead the industry on offering closed captioning for online videos. Guess what? It did happen. On November 19, 2009, Google Blog made an announcement that automatic caption, and ever since, it quite amazing!

Since we first announced captions in Google Video and YouTube, we've introduced multiple caption tracks, improved search functionality and even automatic translation. Each of these features has had great personal significance to me, not only because I helped to design them, but also because I'm deaf. Today, I'm in Washington, D.C. to announce what I consider the most important and exciting milestone yet: machine-generated automatic captions.

Ever since that announcement, a series of TV Networks has been starting to allow consumers to view their favorite shows on their website (internet) such as Fox and NBC. 

However, there’s still thousands of television networks that still does not offer closed captioning or subtitles on the Internet. Thus, the introduction of the blacklist: a list of television networks that does not offer closed captioning. With this list, I urge everyone to either write to your Senator, Congressman/Congresswoman, Assemblyman/Assemblywoman how you think that they should be required to offer closed caption or subtitles on all shows that they offer. If you want to take it one step further, I recommend that you write to these stations as well.

These are the following companies/networks that do not offer internet closed caption or subtitles on their websites or within their services. (If they do offer it, I will strikethrough after confirmation.)

1. Comcast (On Demand)
2. Fancast
3. ABC.com (Does not offer it in Full Screen)
4. CBS.com (Does not offer at all)
5. A&E.com
6. Animal Planet
7. Trutv.com
8. Eonline.com
9. abcfamily.com
10. history.com
11. .syfy.com
12. .tbs.com
13. .discovery.com
14. .tlc.com
15. .usanetwork.com

These companies/networks should be commended for offering internet closed caption or subtitles on their websites or within their services:

1. Hulu.com
2. NBC.com
3. ComedyCentral.com
4. PBS.org

I know that there are thousands of more that should be on here, you know who should be on the blacklist, please let me know. If you know who should be commended, please also let me know.

On a side note, Have you heard of H.R. 3101?  Would you like to see more captioning on the Internet?   Then, check out Sean Gerlis' vlog.  We have only 100 days left to make any difference with this bill. That said, contact your House Representative and ask them to sponsor this bill, if it's important to you.