Red Bee Media, part of Ericsson, partners with Speechmatics to make broadcasting more accessible

Based on Red Bee Media’s subtitling expertise, the bespoke Subito Live platform includes sophisticated formatting and house style configurations, a timed-text database and a wide variety of broadcast and online delivery channels.

Red Bee Media’s new live automatic subtitling solution will help make unregulated content such as social media accessible for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Red Bee Media, part of Ericsson, is announcing the launch of its live automatic subtitling solution aimed at making more unregulated content accessible to a wider audience. Partnering with Speechmatics, Red Bee Media is taking the most accurate automatic speech recognition technology (ASR) on the market and channelling it through its bespoke Subito Live subtitling platform to provide same-language subtitling for social media and other unregulated 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. While regulated content will continue to require skilled subtitlers, unregulated channels such as online content and social media sites can take advantage of Red Bee Media’s live automatic subtitling solution to make their content accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing. 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.

Tom Wootton, Product Manager at Red Bee Media, part of Ericsson, said:

“We are incredibly excited by the potential of using the power of ASR in broadcast and making previously unavailable content accessible for the first time. As leaders in the broadcast and media industry, we are constantly on the lookout for ways to optimise and improve our processes. Our live automatic subtitling solution is an example of the many ways in which we are innovating and we can’t wait to see what other exciting things will result from our partnership with Speechmatics.”

Benedikt von Thüngen, CEO 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 accessible in both regulated and unregulated markets is inspiring and I am thrilled to be involved in a speech revolution that will help open up broadcast media to everyone, everywhere.”

Red Bee Media and Speechmatics have also developed an offline subtitling solution for pre-recorded video content. Incorporating ASR into its production workflows with a secure, internally hosted Speechmatics solution, ensures broadcasters like Channel 4 are at the forefront of new technologies. 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’ Red Bee Media and Speechmatics will be at IBC in Amsterdam between 14-18 September 2018. To find out more, visit Red Bee in Hall 5, stand B27 and Speechmatics in Hall 8, stand E17.