Formats and platforms

1960s-1980s: Early Formats and Standardization Attempts

As television broadcasting grew in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, broadcasters required a standardized way to display subtitles. The development of closed captioning systems for the hearing impaired in North America led to the creation of early formats like EIA-608. These formats were designed to work with analog broadcast signals and were integral to making television accessible to wider audiences.

1990s: Digital Revolution and Diversification

The 1990s brought a digital revolution, significantly impacting subtitling and localization. The rise of DVDs introduced new challenges and opportunities. Formats like VobSub were developed to handle the graphical subtitles needed for DVD playback. Around the same time, the SubRip Subtitle (SRT) format emerged as a simple and versatile text-based solution, gaining popularity for its ease of use and compatibility with various media players.

2000s: Internet and Streaming Era

With the advent of the internet and streaming platforms in the 2000s, the demand for more sophisticated and flexible subtitling formats grew. HTML5's introduction brought WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks), a format designed to work seamlessly with web technologies. Streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon required robust and adaptable formats to handle diverse content across multiple devices, leading to the adoption of formats like TTML (Timed Text Markup Language).

Present Day: Specialized and Advanced Needs

Today, the landscape of video content is more diverse than ever, necessitating specialized formats to meet various technical and user requirements. Advanced SubStation Alpha (ASS/SSA) formats cater to anime and content with complex styling needs, while EBU STL and SCC are essential for broadcast compliance in different regions. Apple's iTunes Timed Text (iTT) caters to the specific needs of their ecosystem, demonstrating how proprietary formats also play a role.

In video subtitling and localization, several formats are commonly used to ensure compatibility with different types of media players, editing software, and streaming platforms. Some of the most widely used formats include: SubRip Subtitle (SRT), Web Video Text Tracks (WebVTT), Advanced SubStation Alpha (ASS/SSA), SubViewer (SUB), Timed Text Markup Language (TTML), SAMI (Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange), QuickTime Text (QT), DVD Subtitle (VobSub), EBU STL (European Broadcasting Union Subtitles), iTunes Timed Text (iTT), Scenarist Closed Caption (SCC), Cheetah Caption (CAP).