NTL/Virgin Subtitles

h00x · 23-02-2007, 10:37

If anyone can help me with subtitles with ntl any advice would be greatly helpful.

My partner had NTL/Virgin installed on the 10/01/2007 since then had nothing but problems with NTL, first there were no channels being recieved by the STB and after 3 weeks of calls we finally got it working after a mirage of diffrent explantions from customer services.

Still this is besides the point. Recently I have been ringing customer services trying to find out why there is a lack of subtitles on any of the channels.

Now if you press help on the NTL remote, go to Access Services, and then TV Access and subtitles it clearly states "NTL customers have access to subtitles
from channels providing them.This means 55 channels with subtitled
programming." Also if there is the Subtitle icon or an [S] or [T] then the program should be subtitled.

Yet when we put the channel on SKyOne, SkyTwo, SkyMovies, E4, ITV2 we do not recieve subtitles even though if you press infomation and view the current program info it clearly shows it should be subtitled. But if I put on FTN what shows no subtitles for any of it programs theres subtitles all the time?

After ringing ntl and being told they would ring back in 2 days as it would have to go to the 2nd line of customer support there was no call so we rang back to which we were told they would ring back in 2-5days ... a week later there was still no reply so we rang again this time customer services told us that NTL dont carry the subtitles and that they buy them from Teletext.

Why they show on there own help system that they have 55 channels subtitled and on the menus themselves ( where if you bring the miniguide up it allows you to turn subtitles on and off when there are no subtitles is beyond me).

Still I phoned teletext... they said that they dont infact supply the subtitles and each broadcaster supply there own ( e.g BBC, ITV, Sky e.t.c) they gave me the phone number for IMS media ( who currently supply sky with there subtitles) and I got in contact with them... they said they cant help me as the subtitles we are currently recieving should be right.

All in all myself and partner are very quickly thinking of moving to sky because at least skyone and movie channels are subtitled, my partner is deaf so she is basically paying for a service she cannot use.

Instincts · 23-02-2007, 19:11

Errr mine work on mine,are you sure you turned them on in the mini guide correctly? , ive never had a problem with that on my old box (a pace) surprisingly, perhaps its a dodgy box or perhaps a fault in your area. Hope it gets sorted out.

RT

Chris W · 23-02-2007, 19:19

Hmm... they are working fine for me on the new software, but as you have identified subtitles are only available on certain programmes.

It would be good if VOD could have subtitles available

homealone · 23-02-2007, 19:30

I just tried it on a couple of channels with the 'press green to turn on subtitles' option in the mini-guide & one worked & the other didn't.

My conclusion was that channels which offer the subtitle option display the 'press green', but not every program on that channel is necessarily broadcast with subtitles??

h00x · 27-02-2007, 20:04

Well since posting this I finally come across an solution thanks to an email from a deaf community member.

It was as easy as just going to teletext and pressing 888 subtitles on sky movies sky one everything ... the problem is solved.

Now I'am angry as to the fact that no NTL/Virgin Media customer service employee knew this and advised me of the matter its so annoying that this has been a problem for weeks and as I said before we were told that they do not carry the subtitles for sky channels.

This is totaly beyond me and just been a big pain in the bum

Taf · 19-03-2007, 11:06

Analogue box..... no subtitles on C5 (and others too) for weeks now. Called several times to ask why and was fobbed-off with "technical issues" each time. The subtitles are there when using an aerial, but missing on the signal down the cable.

I shall be upgraded to digital TV this week (cross fingers) so will these "technical issues" be on the digital signal too?

wdywuk · 21-03-2007, 17:13

My experience has been that are TWO forms of subtitles available on NTL / Virgin Media.

1. This is your usual "digital" subtitles that the set top box will display when available (eg through the settings menu or the mini-guide shortcut).
This is available if you are viewing via your SCART or RF(ie TV) lead

2. The traditional teletext "888" subtitles.
These are available only when viewing via the RF (ie TV) signal.
It is not available on the SCART feed.
Channels such as Film4, SkyOne (when it was available), E4 all show subtitles in this manner.

If you use a PVR / VCR / DVD Recorder, the "digital" subtitles are recorded as they are part of the "image". The "analogue" subtitles are only visible at transmission - unless you have special equipment.

JG3870 · 22-03-2007, 08:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdywuk

The traditional teletext "888" subtitles.
These are available only when viewing via the RF (ie TV) signal.
It is not available on the SCART feed.

If you use a PVR / VCR / DVD Recorder, the "digital" subtitles are recorded as they are part of the "image". The "analogue" subtitles are only visible at transmission - unless you have special equipment.

On the ex-Telewest side I can view traditional teletext through the scart feed with no problems and i can even view them on a recording through my V+ box along with the digital subtitles.

spiderplant · 22-03-2007, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdywuk

2. The traditional teletext "888" subtitles.
These are available only when viewing via the RF (ie TV) signal.
It is not available on the SCART feed.

If you can't see teletext subtitles on SCART, try changing the STB output to composite instead of RGB.

**Stuart C** · 22-03-2007, 09:04

Although not all areas carry standard teletext signals

spiderplant · 22-03-2007, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Although not all areas carry standard teletext signals

Oh yes they do!

Taf · 23-03-2007, 09:14

I was so frustrated by the lack of subtitles that I upgraded from analogue to digital this week... and "Voila! Subtitles!"

Well sometimes.........

Taf · 28-03-2007, 15:49

C5 (CSI) had no subtitles again... and to make it worse the audio levels during that programme were very low also...

WayneMc · 28-03-2007, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

C5 (CSI) had no subtitles again... and to make it worse the audio levels during that programme were very low also...

I had the same problem on Channel 5...no subs at all. This was because I had a PACE box. When the tech changed it to a Samsung, it worked perfectly

Taf · 28-03-2007, 17:41

I have a spanking new Samsung box, and subtitles on by default...