"The introduction of Speechmatics’ ASR solution... means that Red Bee Media are once again are at the cutting edge of broadcasting technology."

The Company

Red Bee Media Access Services specializes in delivering accessible content to make sure that people with hearing or sight impairments are able to get the most out of television content. Providing Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing (Closed Captions), Sign Language Translation, and Audio Description fulfills the regulatory requirements of broadcasters and content owners around the world.

The Challenge

With over 900 million, or one in ten, people estimated to suffer from disabling hearing loss by 2050, it is now more important than ever for all producers of video content to make sure accessibility remains top of mind.

Whilst regulated live content will continue to require skilled subtitlers, subtitling of pre-recorded content can be made more efficient using Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology.

The Solution

Partnering with Speechmatics, Red Bee Media is taking the most accurate ASR on the market and channeling it through its bespoke production workflows to provide same-language subtitling for pre-recorded content.

Red Bee Media and Speechmatics offline subtitling solution for pre-recorded video content incorporates ASR into its production workflows with a secure, internally hosted Speechmatics solution, ensuring broadcasters like Channel 4 are at the forefront of new technologies.

Based on Red Bee Media’s subtitling expertise, the production workflow includes sophisticated formatting and house style configurations, a timed-text database and a wide variety of broadcast and online delivery channels. By introducing the element of ASR, Red Bee Media has been able to create a solution that makes the production of accurate subtitles more cost-efficient.

Graham Wilkinson, Presentation and Content Manager at Channel 4 said: “Red Bee Media has been a key partner in helping break new ground in broadcasting accessibility. The introduction of Speechmatics’ ASR solution to drive subtitling processes means that they are once again are at the cutting edge of broadcasting technology”.

Lee Wardrobe, Customer Success Lead, at Speechmatics, commented: “Red Bee Media is a truly innovative player in the media and broadcast industry and we are excited to work together. Their dedication to making content more accessible, more efficiently is inspiring and I am thrilled to be involved in a speech revolution that will help open up broadcast media to everyone, everywhere”.