Provide closed captioning for ALL channels, not just affiliate and partner
I like the previously posted idea, but no accessibility features should ever be locked as rewards behind achievements. Folks shouldn’t need to be affiliated or partners to provide captioning to their audiences.

-
JoinJess commented
It would be really awesome if Twitch could add integrated CC, with a setup guide for how to connect in that's easy to find and follow for streamers, that can be turned off or on similar to how YouTube does it, or allow the viewer to set where they want the CC to be, or have it work like a news ticker just below the video. People using CC should not have to compromise stream quality and game view in the name of accessibility.
-
twitch.tv/MonicaElleRose commented
This has been one of the best close captioning apps I've seen that uses twitches native close captioning (link at the end of this comment) - however, even using captions on twitch through twitch's own system, we still have to manually add the tag? I wish the tag was added automatically if it recognizes that we are using captions.
I would like to see a future where every stream has captions. Accessibility is neededhttps://obsproject.com/forum/resources/closed-captioning-via-google-speech-recognition.833/
-
The_DarkPreacher commented
If YouTube can provide captions for videos, and Instagram can provide captions, how hard would it be to actually provide live captions or even just more accessiblity for blind or hard of hearing viewers? You removed the tag "blind playthrough" so as not to offend blind viewers, and yet, you do not make streams accessible for them. Instead of virtue signals, how about some actual accommodation?
-
Tavi_the_Wolfess commented
Just dropping to say this is one we as streamers can be addressing without waiting for Twitch to add more features. There's a great website here: https://sites.google.com/view/livestreamcaptions/home which details various methods of adding computer generated captions. The method I use involves a plugin for OBS, and sends captions to Twitch's integrated caption feature, allowing it to be adjusted through settings for that feature & also leaves captions in the VOD. There is also a Closed Captions tag on Twitch to use after setting one of these options up, which I have gotten feedback from deaf/hard of hearing viewers that they search for streams using the tag.
That said: Still up voting this and would encourage others to do the same because having more, higher quality and easier to implement accessibility options would definitely improve things + lead to more streams with captions. Just wanted to put in about the current third party options so people checking this post can find & implement them in the meantime.
-
rozenkris14 commented
Hi! I'm Kris of rozenkris14! Rose and I both would like there to be more accessibility options available to smaller streamers and to viewers. We both recognize that closed captioning is helpful to the deaf/hearing impaired but it's only accessible to affiliates and partners. We also understand that closed captioning isn't the greatest in it's current state, but, we would like to be as inclusive as possible to our viewers, and we are pretty sure other people feel the same way. Thank you, Kriskristen14 and Rosekoi of rozenkris14
-
kodamumrik commented
It would be great, not just for the hearing impaired or those with auditory processing disorders. I've been in a chat before where it was simply everyone subtitling because someone was having a hard time understanding or keeping up.
-
txrxg18 commented
This should not be so difficult. I have spent hours trying to configure CC into my streams. My viewers should not have to struggle to understand my streams. No viewers should. If you're not going to add CC anytime soon, PLEASE create a guide for configuring the overlay for small streamers!
-
FieryAshes commented
Thiiiiis. It's so important and it's definitely possible. It should be a setting of the player, not an extension. It should just... be there. The Stream Closed Captioner by Gooseman is good in that it is moveable and you can change the size, etc, etc... but the fact that it needs to be a separate 3rd party rather than an available service makes us choose between other fun user experiences and necessary accessibility, it's also another thing we have to have running in the background, etc... it's just ridiculous there is no in house option. I hope that changes for all streams someday.
-
stufetta_ commented
Dear Twitch, i always enjoy looking to my favourite channel or streamer playing my favourite game. So you are wondering, where is the problem? Often I am forced to follow the stream without the ability to hear what the entertainer says, because I don't have the ability to do so. This happens when I am in the office or outdoors without headphones. So, finding myself in trouble, I don't fully enjoy the stream and give up watching it. So I'm wondering, is it possible to consider the idea of implementing an option to activate automatic speech recognition with related subtitles, in the language spoken by the streamer?
Although these may be incorrect subtitles, they would still allow you to better enjoy the stream in almost all of its content.Thanks for your attention,
greetings,
Stefano. -
Jamit commented
As a deaf streamer & viewer here, I totally agree to this. It should be available to every channels out which should be more accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing.
-
masakou07 commented
Hello, all.
I'm Japanese and I have some favorite streamers in Twitch. But I have no ability to understand what they say in English completely...
This is just due to my incompetence, but I want to manage to do it.
I tried to dictate by putting a mic closer to the spaker with turning Google Voice Recognition on. It was almost alright, but difficult to recognize long sentenses or for a long time.Then I would like to request a function that subtitles are automatically generated by recognizing their voices.
I want to grow up with my favorite streamers.
It is OK for the Twitch Prime members or as a new billing system.Best Regards.
-
chasinglux commented
Yes! This is the one!
-
chasinglux commented
I agree - but I echo the sentiments below. It is needed for all streams. Purr.
-
LadyRebellium commented
Having streamers implement their own closed captioning source means that the majority of streamers out there won't have it or don't know how to implement it.
Integrating Google or Microsoft's speech recognition technology by default could help those hard of hearing enjoy more content.
-
swandess commented
^^^ This 100%. The point of accessibility is that it is ACCESSIBLE.
-
littlenavi_ commented
All streams, not just affiliate and partner. Accessibility should never be locked behind achievements.
-
Sandrock323 commented
Add Closed Captions to all streams and not just large streams
-
csharpfritz commented
Every channel on Twitch should be accessible to folks who cannot hear the content or need to be able to read along with the broadcaster.
Let's make closed captioning for every affiliate and partner channel available to everyone without a Twitch extension
-
James A. commented
Special events have subtitles or closed captions but I think it should be a standard feature. I was talking with squishiikitty and tacobagged, both streamers on twitch and we thought you should make them a standard feature so those who are hearing impaired can enjiynthr streams as well. All need to be included. Maybe let the streamer allow them through a feature or give the viewer a button to click on the stream page/video player or put it in their settings with a slider to enable them for all streams they watch.