Closed captioning feature

AT&T is not responsible for CC content.

HOW DOES CLOSED CAPTIONING WORK?

Some shows are captioned in real time. That is, during a live broadcast of a special event or of a news program, captions appear just a few seconds behind the action to show what is being said. A stenographer listens to the broadcast and types the words into a special computer program that adds the captions to the television signal. The typists have to be skilled at dictation and spelling and they have to be very fast and accurate at typing.

Other shows carry captions that get added after the show is produced. Caption writers use scripts and listen to a show's soundtrack so they can add words that explain sound effects. On a game show, for example, when there is no dialogue but there is laughter, the caption will say "Audience laughing."