Closed Caption Weirdness on only 4 Fubo networks

TV_Ken · December 1, 2024, 7:20pm

I have several sources for cable networks, one of which is "VLC-Bridge-Fubo" (jgomez177). All but 4 of the cable networks I get through this source work perfectly. The following 4 have a unique problem. SyFi, Halmark (all 3), Smithsonian, Paramount (Not Paramount Plus).

When I watch live or watch a recording from these 4 networks on my Windows 10 server, the captions are fine. However, when I watch live or recorded programs through the FireStick or remotely on my Android, the captions are missing. The FireStick and Android offer to turn on captions, which only happens when captions exist, but turning them on does nothing.

With USA, ION, FS1, Comet, WFXT, Bloomberg, Fox News, Fubo Movies, and many others, the captions all work fine on the FireStick.

Can anyone give me a hint as to what to look for to fix this? Does anyone else have this problem?

Ken

Fofer · December 1, 2024, 7:53pm

Just for a point of reference, I am using the same VLC-bridge-Fubo docker and tested just now and am able to see closed captions when watching live TV on SyFy and Smithsonian Channel, on AppleTV. So this appears to be an issue specifically with those channels when using an Android-based client.

TV_Ken · December 2, 2024, 6:20pm

I upgraded the Channels software on my FireStick with no positive results, so I ordered an ONN stick from Walmart for $15 (Black Friday). I'll let you know if it makes any difference.

tmm1 · December 2, 2024, 7:25pm

Make a recording, check View Details. Is there a captions track listed?

TV_Ken · December 3, 2024, 3:08pm

Details:
Duration
5 min

Bit Rate
2,809,415 bits/sec

File Size
92,808,268 bytes

File ID
17873

Streaming Index
Up to date

Pass
Manual Recording

Channel
303 Paramount Network

Track #0: AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
stereo 191.92kbps

Track #1: H.264 / AVC / MPEG-4 AVC / MPEG-4 part 10
1280x720 16:9 yuv420p progressive 29.97fps

chDVRuser · December 4, 2024, 4:07am

That show looks like it has no closed captions.
Could be unique per show on a channel.
You could double check by opening the recording in MediaInfo
You can also use MediaInfoOnline to test MediaInfo without installing any software on your computer.

TV_Ken · December 4, 2024, 3:53pm

The CC show up fine when I play them through Channels on my Windows 10 machine, or when I play them direct through Fubo.

TV_Ken · December 4, 2024, 4:05pm

Here is the output from MediaInfo.

General
ID                                       : 0 (0x0)
Complete name                            : Bar Rescue S09E12 2024-05-12 CSI Los Cocos 2024-11-25-1556.mpg
Format                                   : MPEG-TS
File size                                : 88.5 MiB
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 2 810 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 29.970 FPS
Law rating                               : TV-14 (DL)
FileExtension_Invalid                    : ts m2t m2s m4t m4s tmf ts tp trp ty
.
Video
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : [email protected]
Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 2 frames
Codec ID                                 : 27
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Nominal bit rate                         : 2 500 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 280 pixels
Height                                   : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.091
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
.
Audio
ID                                       : 258 (0x102)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Format version                           : Version 2
Muxing mode                              : ADTS
Codec ID                                 : 2 / 15-2
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : 1 ms
.
Text #1
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)-CC1
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : EIA-608
Muxing mode                              : DTVCC Transport / SCTE 128 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Stream size                              : 0.00 Byte (0%)
.
Text #2
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)-CC3
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : EIA-608
Muxing mode                              : DTVCC Transport / SCTE 128 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Stream size                              : 0.00 Byte (0%)
.
Text #3
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)-1
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : EIA-708
Muxing mode                              : DTVCC Transport / SCTE 128 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Stream size                              : 0.00 Byte (0%)
.
Text #4
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)-2
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : EIA-708
Muxing mode                              : DTVCC Transport / SCTE 128 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Stream size                              : 0.00 Byte (0%)
.
Text #5
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)-4
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : EIA-708
Muxing mode                              : DTVCC Transport / SCTE 128 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Stream size                              : 0.00 Byte (0%)
.
Text #6
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)-6
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : EIA-708
Muxing mode                              : DTVCC Transport / SCTE 128 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Stream size                              : 0.00 Byte (0%)

TV_Ken · December 4, 2024, 4:09pm

Subtitles also display fine when the file is played through the VLC program.

TV_Ken · December 6, 2024, 3:48pm

Does the MediaInfo data tell you anything? I don't know what to look for.

Ken

chDVRuser · December 6, 2024, 5:41pm

Yes, it shows it has closed captions.

TV_Ken:

Text #1
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)-CC1
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : EIA-608
Muxing mode                              : DTVCC Transport / SCTE 128 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Stream size                              : 0.00 Byte (0%)
.
Text #3
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)-1
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : EIA-708
Muxing mode                              : DTVCC Transport / SCTE 128 / DTVCC Transport
Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
Duration                                 : 4 min 24 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Stream size                              : 0.00 Byte (0%)

But I'm not a developer, so nothing I can do.

chDVRuser · December 6, 2024, 8:16pm

You can show us the closed captions in the recording.
Do Edit Commercials on the recording and click the highlighted comskip.log

It will open the comskip log in your browser.
Search for Closed caption transcript and copy/paste these 13 lines into your post

Closed caption transcript
--------------------
0) S:     1 E:  3177 L:   0 
1) S:  3178 E:  3195 L:   9     MTV  
2) S:  3332 E:  3381 L:  32    Previously on  Yellowstone...
3) S:  3408 E:  3477 L:  46  [Kayce]  In my vision,   choice that I saw...
4) S:  3510 E:  3571 L:  50  I have to choose between my family and the ranch.
5) S:  3618 E:  3687 L:  51  -I don't know what it means. -When the time comes,
6) S:  3790 E:  3813 L:  13  you'll know.
7) S:  3840 E:  3891 L:  38  -He looks angry. -This son of a bitch
8) S:  3988 E:  4031 L:  29  -was born angry! -Well, then
9) S:  4058 E:  4111 L:  35  he's got no business being a stud.
10) S:  4140 E:  4201 L:  43  Get the vet to come down here and cut him.

TV_Ken · December 6, 2024, 10:39pm

Where do I find "Edit Commercials"?

chDVRuser · December 6, 2024, 10:55pm

Options dropdown on the recording

TV_Ken · December 6, 2024, 11:07pm

My (short 5 minute) test recording did not have any commercials, so this menu item did not appear. I'm making a longer recording and will try again.

Ken

TV_Ken · December 7, 2024, 12:13am

Here is the start of what I got. What does it tell you?

Closed caption transcript
--------------------
0) S:     1 E:    45 L:   0 
1) S:    46 E:    56 L:  18  Sadly enough, no.
2) S:   147 E:   178 L:  54  Okay, okay, just so you understand, this is my house,
3) S:   240 E:   265 L:  47  and you don't get to invite people to move in.
4) S:   300 E:   330 L:  57  Why do you keep harping on that? She is not living here.
5) S:   372 E:   407 L:  63  I'm just gonna throw in a load of laundry before I go to work.
6) S:   567 E:   580 L:  24  Sure looks like she is.
7) S:   663 E:   686 L:  38  I don't know what he's talking about.
8) S:   757 E:   780 L:  38    Men men men men manly men men men  
9) S:   852 E:   877 L:  43    Men men men men  Oo-o-oh oo-o-oh ooh ooh
10) S:   924 E:   936 L:  20    Manly men men men
11) S:   967 E:   983 L:  28    Men men men men manly men
12) S:  1053 E:  1070 L:  30    Ooh hoo-hoo hoo-hoo hoo ooh
13) S:  1099 E:  1122 L:  38    Men men men men manly men men men  
14) S:  1203 E:  1208 L:   6    Ooh
15) S:  1223 E:  1246 L:  38    Men men men men manly men men men  
16) S:  1295 E:  1310 L:  23    Ha ah ha-a-ah  Men  
17) S:  1564 E:  1579 L:  29  Hey, listen, I was thinking.
18) S:  1595 E:  1624 L:  55  Why don't we bring my bed over from my mother's house?
19) S:  1729 E:  1745 L:  28  We-we've already got a bed.
20) S:  1776 E:  1800 L:  40  This isn't a bed. It's a foldout couch.
21) S:  1820 E:  1850 L:  54  And you're the one who's always complaining about it.
22) S:  1881 E:  1906 L:  44  Oh, pfft, I complain about a lot of things.
23) S:  1957 E:  1978 L:  40  Like, uh, like automatic-flush toilets.
24) S:  1998 E:  2033 L:  65  I mean, everything's gone before you get a chance to turn around
25) S:  2091 E:  2105 L:  27  and check out how you did.
26) S:  2154 E:  2177 L:  40  What the dickens are you talking about?
27) S:  2207 E:  2233 L:  46  Let's just leave the furniture the way it is.

chDVRuser · December 7, 2024, 12:31am

That the recording has closed captions beyond a shadow of a doubt and that comskip was able to read them, so the Channels clients should display them. Can you select them using the Channels client on your FireStick or Android?

TV_Ken · December 7, 2024, 6:27pm

On the FireStick, ONN, and my Android phone, while the show is playing, it offers me the option to turn on closed captions. If I select the option, it shows a check mark indicating that they are there and turned on, but no captions show. Under Windows, the captions work fine.

I have an old iPad that has not been used in years. If I can get it to power up, I'll see what happens there.

Ken

TV_Ken · December 8, 2024, 6:23pm

I finally got my old iPad running. The captions work fine on the iPad. So it looks like only Android based clients fail.

system · January 7, 2025, 6:23pm

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