Why do some programmes not have subtitles?
BBC subtitles provide a transcript of the TV soundtrack, helping deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers to follow programmes. They have been available since the early 1980s. No other UK broadcaster matches the proportion of programmes subtitled by the BBC. It is committed to subtitling 100% of BBC TV programmes by 2008. Over 80% of BBC One and Two are already subtitled, and 50% of BBC Three, Four, CBBC, CBeebies and BBC News 24. The BBC is also developing a signing system which could display optional sign-language services on digital TV.
