How does Netflix, HBO and other services get their subtitles? Are they now using AI to help translate?
And are translations always done based on the native language or do they translate from e.g. the English subtitle to another language? Asking because this definitely feels like something they would skimp out on if they could.
Production companies likely provide them when they also provide the show to the network.
Yeah didn't think about this. Then quality might differ heavily I'm guessing.
Quality of the subtitles depend on the company the production company contracted out the subtitles to be created by.
The company that puts together the subtitle file does so using the provided script with time stamps provided.
If multiple languages are needed the production company hires companies to do the translation, and other companies might be hired to put together those subtile files for those specific languages they specialize in.
Some companies in some regions may have multiple departments that specialize in two or more of these feilds.
Delux entertainment for example does audio mixing and also has a subtitle department.
I knew someone that did subtitles
they are basically like court transcriptions, they watch the show and type up the lines and then submit their work back to the studios during the editing process
Interesting
There can be many different companies involved. For example audio houses usually do the audio mixing. When you looks at the credits on Netflix shows you will see the credits for many different audio houses doing the mix for different regions and languages they specialize in.
Similarly subtitles are produced by many third party companies contracted to do the transitions of the provided scripts. Generally the scripts already have time stamps in them of when the audio happens as well.
Audio and visual production has many different companies and professionals coming together all around the world to put shows and movies together. Especially when these shows or movies are released in different regions.
An analogy is a contractor building a house. The contracting company hires out all aspects of the construction process to professionals that specialize in building the house. You have framers, drywallers, HVAC installers, plumber's and so on.
There are both auto generated subtitles and human generated. The former is much cheaper per word and prone to more error than the latter, but auto generated is getting increasingly more accurate. Some will auto generate and then pay a human to edit