Our Subtitling Services
Subtitle Formats & Platforms
Accessibility & Compliance
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Gotham Lab provides professional subtitling services in New York City for production companies, distributors, streaming platforms, broadcast networks, and content creators across every industry. Our in-house team of native-speaking subtitlers and caption editors delivers multilingual subtitles, SDH subtitles, and closed captioning in every major delivery format — with no outsourcing, no third-party vendors, and rates 20–30% below the national average.
We have been providing video subtitling and closed captioning services since 2007 — nearly two decades of experience that sets Gotham Lab apart from other subtitling companies in New York and nationally. Every subtitle file we deliver is reviewed against the source video for timing accuracy, reading speed compliance, character-per-line limits, and linguistic precision before leaving our studio.
Subtitles, Closed Captions & SDH — What’s the Difference?
Subtitles, closed captions, and SDH subtitles are three distinct formats that serve different audiences and purposes — and understanding the difference is critical for meeting platform delivery requirements and accessibility compliance obligations.
Subtitles
Subtitles are text displays of spoken dialogue translated into a target language, intended for viewers who can hear the audio but do not speak the source language. They translate only the spoken words — they do not describe sound effects, music, or ambient audio. Subtitles are the primary format for international distribution and foreign-language releases.
Closed captions
Closed captions are a text representation of all audio content in a video — including spoken dialogue, speaker identification, sound effects, music descriptions, and silence notations. They are intended primarily for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing and who are watching content in their own language. FCC regulations require closed captions on broadcast television content. Major streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+ require closed captions on all English-language content as a condition of delivery.
SDH subtitles — Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
SDH subtitles combine the translation function of subtitles with the accessibility features of closed captions — providing a translated text of the dialogue alongside speaker identification, sound effect descriptions, and music cues. SDH is the required format for foreign-language accessibility compliance on streaming platforms. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ all require SDH tracks in addition to standard subtitle tracks for international content packages.
Gotham Lab provides all three formats — standard subtitles, closed captions, and SDH subtitles — delivered in every required file format for every distribution channel.
Subtitle File Formats We Deliver
Gotham Lab delivers subtitle files in every major format required by streaming platforms, broadcast networks, theatrical distributors, and digital platforms. We match the exact technical specifications of your delivery target — no reformatting required on your end.
| Format | Full name | Used for | Gotham Lab delivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRT | SubRip Text | Universal web, social media, YouTube, general streaming | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| VTT | WebVTT | HTML5 video, web platforms, YouTube, general streaming | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| SCC | Scenarist Closed Caption | US broadcast television, DVD, Blu-ray | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| TTML / DFXP | Timed Text Markup | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, broadcast | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| STL | Spruce Subtitle File | DVD, Blu-ray, broadcast Europe | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| PAC | Screen Electronics PAC | Broadcast Europe, EBU standard | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| EBU STL | EBU Subtitle File | European broadcast standard | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| Netflix DFXP | Netflix Timed Text | Netflix platform delivery — specific formatting rules apply | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| iTunes iTT | iTunes Timed Text | Apple TV+, iTunes platform delivery | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
| CAP | Cheetah CAP | US broadcast, legacy format | ✓ Yes — get a quote |
Need a format not listed above? Contact us — we work with all major subtitle formats and can convert between formats while preserving all timecodes and formatting.
If your platform or distributor requires a format not listed above, contact us to confirm availability. We work with all major subtitle formats and can convert between formats while preserving timecodes, formatting, and style information.
Accessibility & Compliance — FCC, ADA & WCAG
Closed captioning and SDH subtitles are not optional for many content types — they are legally required. Understanding which regulations apply to your content is critical for compliance and for avoiding penalties.
FCC closed captioning requirements
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires closed captions on all television programming in the United States, including content that was originally broadcast with captions and is later distributed online. Video programming distributors and providers must comply with FCC caption quality standards covering accuracy, synchronicity, completeness, and placement. Gotham Lab provides FCC-compliant closed captioning in SCC and all required broadcast formats.
ADA and
Section 508 compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act require federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funding to ensure that multimedia content is accessible to people with disabilities. For video content, this means providing accurate closed captions and — where applicable — audio description. Gotham Lab provides ADA and Section 508-compliant captioning services and works with organizations to audit and remediate existing caption files for compliance.
WCAG 2.1 web accessibility guidelines
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 require captions for all pre-recorded audio content in synchronized media at the AA compliance level. For organizations publishing video on websites, intranets, or digital platforms, WCAG compliance requires accurate, synchronized closed captions. Gotham Lab provides WCAG-compliant caption files in all web-compatible formats including VTT and SRT.
* For organizations requiring full multimedia accessibility compliance including both captioning and audio description, Gotham Lab’s audio description services team provides end-to-end accessibility solutions meeting all current US and international standards.
Free quote — same day response
Contact us for a precise project quote. We respond to all inquiries within one business day. Rush turnaround available for time-sensitive deadlines. Ready to start? Contact Gotham Lab for a free consultation!
Why Choose Gotham Lab as Your Subtitling Company?
What sets Gotham Lab apart from every other subtitling company in New York — five reasons our clients never look elsewhere.
| Why Gotham Lab | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Nearly two decades of subtitling expertise | Gotham Lab has been providing professional subtitling and closed captioning services since 2007 — nearly twenty years of experience working with production companies, distributors, streaming platforms, broadcast networks, museums, and corporate clients. Our depth of experience in subtitle timing, platform-specific formatting, and multilingual quality control is unmatched among subtitling companies in New York. |
| In-house team — no outsourcing | Every subtitle translation, timing, formatting, and quality review at Gotham Lab is handled exclusively by our NYC-based team. We never subcontract your content to third-party vendors or offshore subtitle houses. This ensures consistent quality, complete confidentiality, and a single accountable point of contact from intake through delivery. |
| 99% subtitle accuracy — guaranteed | Every subtitle file we deliver undergoes a rigorous two-stage quality control process — subtitle creation and translation by a native-speaking specialist, followed by independent review against the source video by a second qualified subtitler. Our subtitle accuracy is guaranteed. If any timing or linguistic error is identified after delivery, we correct it at no additional charge. |
| Proprietary cloud-based subtitling platform | Gotham Lab uses a proprietary cloud-based subtitling and captioning platform that enables our subtitle editors to collaborate in real time, reducing turnaround times and ensuring consistency across large multilingual projects. This technology advantage — combined with our in-house team — means we deliver subtitles faster and at lower cost than competitors relying on third-party tools and outsourced networks. |
| 20–30% below competitor rates | Because we operate entirely in-house without a middleman markup, Gotham Lab's subtitling rates start from $6 per minute — consistently 50–63% below the national average for film subtitling. Professional-grade subtitling with guaranteed accuracy, platform-compliant delivery, and nearly two decades of expertise. Contact us for a free quote. |
Ready to start your subtitling project? Get a free quote today.
Contact Gotham Lab: info@gothamlab.com | +1 347-587-8110 | 340 W 42nd St #2424, New York, NY 10108
Frequently Asked Questions — Subtitling Services
Ten of the most common questions about subtitling services, closed captioning, SDH, subtitle file formats, and streaming platform delivery — answered by our New York City team.
What is the difference between subtitles and closed captions?
What subtitle file format do I need for Netflix?
How much do subtitling services cost?
How long does subtitling take?
What languages do you provide subtitling in?
Do you provide subtitling for film festivals?
What is SDH and do I need it?
Can you convert subtitle files between formats?
Do you provide closed captioning for online video?
Is all subtitling work done in New York?
Get a Free Subtitling Quote Today
Whether you need SRT subtitles for a social media series, Netflix-compliant DFXP files for a streaming release, FCC-compliant closed captions for broadcast delivery, or a complete multilingual subtitle package for international distribution, Gotham Lab’s New York subtitling services team is ready to support your project from consultation through delivery.
As one of New York’s most experienced subtitling companies, we respond to all project inquiries within one business day and offer rush turnaround for time-sensitive releases and festival deadlines. Contact us for a free consultation and project quote — no commitment required.
Ready to start your subtitling project? Contact Gotham Lab for a free consultation —
Contact Gotham Lab: info@gothamlab.com | +1 347-587-8110 | 340 W 42nd St #2424, New York, NY 10108
Gotham Lab – NYC
Address: 340 W 42nd St #2424, New York, NY 10108
Phone: +1 347-587-8110
Email: info@gothamlab.com
Hours: Mon–Fri: 8:00am–7:00pm | Sat: 9:00am–5:00pm