Summary of "Closed Captions" Episode – The Economics of Everyday Things

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Economics of Everyday Things
• Host: Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett
• Episode: 90. Closed Captions
• Release Date: April 28, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Economics of Everyday Things, journalist Zachary Crockett delves into the intricate world of closed captions, shedding light on the vital role they play in accessibility and media consumption. Through engaging discussions with Katie Ryan, a seasoned closed captioner, and Doug Karlovitz, General Manager at Verbit, the episode explores the economics, technology, and human elements behind the captions viewers see on their screens.

Katie Ryan: The Human Behind the Captions

Katie Ryan, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, exemplifies the indispensable role of human captioners in broadcasting. Her unassuming home office contrasts sharply with the high-stakes environment of live television she operates within.

Katie Ryan [01:31]: "I've done the Super Bowl a handful of times. I've done the Olympics many times. I just did the Oscars a couple weeks ago."

Ryan's extensive experience spans major sporting events, award shows, and breaking news, highlighting the breadth of her expertise in real-time transcription.

The Mechanics of Closed Captions

Closed captions are distinct from subtitles; while subtitles primarily serve translation purposes, captions cater to individuals with hearing impairments by encompassing dialogue, sound effects, music, and background noises.

Doug Karlovitz [03:49]: "The goal of captioning is to give the user the content of exactly what's being heard."

Ryan elucidates the real-time nature of her work, emphasizing the necessity of speed and accuracy:

Katie Ryan [02:13]: "Most people think their TV just does it. They don't realize that there's a person like me sitting in a room with headphones on and people don't realize that it's happening live."

Evolution of Captioning Technology

The history of captioning dates back to the 1970s, with "open captions" becoming a permanent feature of pre-recorded shows. The advent of "closed captions" in the 1980s, championed by the National Captioning Institute, allowed viewers to toggle captions on and off, expanding accessibility to live broadcasts.

Doug Karlovitz shares the legacy of his father, Joe Karlovitz, a court reporter who pioneered computer-assisted captioning in the 1980s, laying the foundation for today's leading provider, Verbit.

Doug Karlovitz [05:03]: "My father was a court reporter, a stenographer, and he became very interested in computers and how to take his stenotype and get it translated through a computer into English."

The Human vs. AI Debate

While automation and AI have made significant inroads into the captioning industry, human captioners like Katie Ryan remain crucial for ensuring accuracy, especially in live broadcasts where nuances and rapid speech are prevalent.

Doug Karlovitz [19:53]: "Artificial intelligence has already fundamentally changed the captioning business. Verbit offers automatic speech recognition and generative AI tools that are trained with diverse language models to pick up on speech patterns."

Despite the rise of AI, Katie advocates for the irreplaceable value of human oversight:

Katie Ryan [20:38]: "We want those people to be able to have captioning that is as accurate and as clean as possible so they know what to do and they can be safe. I will always advocate for a human captioner to be there to give the best service possible."

The Expanding Audience for Captions

Initially designed for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, captions have gained popularity among a broader audience, particularly Gen Z, who utilize them for various reasons including noise variability in modern media and the prevalence of silent video consumption on mobile devices.

Zachary Crockett [18:30]: "All of this effort is to ensure that people who are deaf or hard of hearing have equal access to media. But captions have found a much broader audience."

Challenges in Live Captioning

Live captioning is fraught with challenges, from handling high-speed dialogue to managing overlapping conversations. Katie Ryan shares the intense focus required to maintain accuracy under pressure.

Katie Ryan [09:24]: "Sometimes you can't even get a drink of water."

Even with a 99% accuracy standard, Ryan acknowledges occasional errors:

Katie Ryan [15:32]: "I tend to drag my fingers, so sometimes I will catch extra letters when I'm trying to write. Certain words miss keys too."

Insights from the Industry

Doug Karlovitz provides a comprehensive overview of the captioning industry's landscape, highlighting major players like Verbit, IBM, and Zoo Digital Group, which collectively control a significant market share. He underscores the diverse applications of captions, from educational settings to legal proceedings and entertainment.

Doug Karlovitz [06:37]: "We work with all the major broadcasters, all the various producers of television programs, work with all the different universities around the world providing captions for the classroom."

Conclusion

The episode underscores the indispensable role of human captioners in ensuring accessibility and enhancing the viewer experience. While technology continues to evolve, the blend of human expertise and automated tools appears poised to shape the future of closed captioning.

Katie Ryan [20:38]: "I will always advocate for a human captioner to be there to give the best service possible."

Zachary Crockett wraps up by emphasizing the critical nature of this behind-the-scenes work, ensuring that media remains accessible to all.

Notable Quotes:

• Katie Ryan [02:13]: "Most people think their TV just does it. They don't realize that there's a person like me sitting in a room with headphones on and people don't realize that it's happening live."

• Doug Karlovitz [05:03]: "My father was a court reporter, a stenographer, and he became very interested in computers and how to take his stenotype and get it translated through a computer into English."

• Katie Ryan [20:38]: "We want those people to be able to have captioning that is as accurate and as clean as possible so they know what to do and they can be safe. I will always advocate for a human captioner to be there to give the best service possible."

This comprehensive summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the "Closed Captions" episode, providing a clear and engaging overview for those unfamiliar with the content.