We get this question several times a week. So do you need to caption Spanish video? Let’s talk about it.

The topic is so popular that we have talked about it before.  If you work with video then you probably already have a general understanding of FCC regulations for closed captions on English videos. What about Spanish video captions? Do the FCC regulations apply to them as well?  And are there other benefits of closed captions in addition to accessibility? Let’s look at why you should always caption Spanish video.

FCC Regulations

In February 2014, the FCC released quality standards for closed captioning of video programming. In the same ruling, the FCC specified closed captioning rules for bilingual English/Spanish-language video content.

This answers our question. Requirements for in English and Spanish are identical, the FCC states that bilingual English and Spanish language is subject to the same captioning regulations. This means that bilingual (English, Spanish) programming must be closed captioned in their respective languages.

The FCC requires that closed captions are included on all Spanish/bilingual news broadcasts in the US.  They expect Spanish closed captions to adhere to the same quality standards as English captions, including synchronicity, placement, and accuracy.

And let’s not forget that all educational video must be captioned.   There is more on that here and here.

Why Caption Spanish Video?

Captions help viewers with comprehension. It isn’t always possible to watch a video in a quiet environment, and if you misunderstand what someone is saying then you may not understand the meaning of the video.

If your company has created a 10-minute video for potential customers and they misinterpret the dialogue, then your company may suffer a lower conversion rate.

SEO is improved when you include captions on your online videos. Making sure you include high-ranking keywords in your videos will improve the ranking of that video. And, if you embed that video on your website, it will improve website rankings as well.

If you are looking to expand your reach and grow market share, then bilingual Spanish subtitles can benefit you. Here are some important statistics:

• Only one-third of video viewers speak English.
• Mexico is among the top 10 countries with most YouTube viewers.
• 75% of Hispanics in the US speak Spanish at home.
• Creating subtitles and captions in other languages increases views.

Hispanic Purchase Power

With the growth of the Hispanic population and their increasing purchasing power, the benefits of including closed captions on your Spanish videos far outweigh the cost.

Hispanics have a purchasing power of over one trillion dollars and they are early adopters. They love technology, especially mobile devices. Hispanics are 24% more likely to purchase a smartphone when it first comes on the market and 8% more likely to buy new tablets.

• 72% of Hispanics are on Social Media.
• 72% have at least one mobile device.
• Hispanics have $1.2 trillion purchase power.
• More likely to buy mobile devices than non-Hispanics by over 20%.

So What’s Your Next Step?

Now that we understand the FCC mandates to caption Spanish video.  Jump in and give it a try.  You can upload a video for free to test it out.

If you are looking for some tips on Spanish video captioning, sign up for our newsletter. We love to help people understand all of the benefits they receive from closed captions and subtitles on their online videos.

Benefits of Closed Captioning Requirements:

• Making videos accessible to English as a 2nd language (ESL) viewers
• Creating searchable video content
• Increasing student engagement through an interactive experience
• Using keywords improve content discovery for better learning outcomes

Accessibility Links:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Highlights and Overview
• IDEA overview and history
• Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education
• Section 508 Compliance Overview
• Summary of 508 Compliance Standards
• Section 508 Guide for E-learning and Multimedia Technology
• GSA Tutorials, Guidance and Checklists for multimedia
• Alliance for Technology Access 
• Equal Access: Design of Distance Education Learning Program
• ADA, Title III Regulations