Captions on DVD

Captioning levels

The level of captioning on new release DVD rentals has been stable around the 55 per cent mark since 2006. While some distributors have increased their levels of captioning on DVDs, other smaller DVD distributors have come into the market and are releasing titles with no added features beyond the feature itself. 

The table below represents the captioning trends of only the members of AHEDA since 2008. 2008 was the first year when all AHEDA members acknowledged that they were importing access files from international sources. 

Media Access Australia no longer maintains a database of captioned DVDs. You can search and buy captioned retail DVDs on EzyDVD via the DVD menu option: select 'See All' in the sub menu, then scroll down to 'All Subtitles' in the left-hand column and select 'English - HI'.

Please visit the Equipment reviews and how to section for information about how to watch a DVD with captions.

View a list of DVD captioning suppliers.

Table of captioning trends of AHEDA members since 2008:

Media Access Australia often receives enquiries from consumers asking questions about digital equipment that can receive captions. Although we try to keep up-to-date with the latest in technology, it is difficult to be fully informed about every piece of equipments’ capabilities.

A common problem we hear at MAA is where people have purchased equipment, assuming that because it is digital it will display captions.  This is a widespread inaccuracy. To ensure digital equipment receives captions, consumers should look for at least one of these two things:

• The equipment meets Australian Standard 4933 for digital reception.
• The equipment has the HD Tick logo.

These two pieces of information will tell you that the equipment is capable of receiving captions. This does not mean that it will definitely record captions.