Subtitling Audiences Network
The Subtitling Audiences Network brings together researchers, industry professionals, media localisation companies and audiovisual translators to tackle important subtitling questions and develop new ways to understand and research audience needs.
Our research provides translators, distributors and exhibitors with clear, evidence-based insights into what audiences truly need and want from subtitles. The findings support improvements in how subtitles are presented and help advocate for approaches that better meet audience needs.
The Network started as an AHRC-funded project (AH/Y006305/1 between March 2024 – June 2025).
Aims of The Network
Collaborate
Foster cross-sector collaboration by bringing together researchers and industry partners from media production, distribution, and exhibition.
Start conversation
Maintain an open and ongoing dialogue between members, ensuring that the research agenda is responsive to and informed by industry needs.
Conduct research
Support the development of research projects, from small-scale studies to large collaborative initiatives, involving both academic and industry partners.
Share knowledge
Promote accessible knowledge sharing by encouraging researchers to produce industry reports that make research data freely available and easy to understand.
Create activities
Organise and support outreach activities — including events, talks, and screenings — to help audiences better understand the complexities and challenges of subtitling.
Engage the public
Encourage public discussion on subtitling to raise awareness of its cultural importance and highlight the work of subtitlers.
Learn more about the Network
Rapid changes in the reach and use of subtitling
Subtitling has been traditionally associated with access for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers or the translation of English-language content into other languages. Today, the picture looks very different.
Important questions remain about quality and user experience
Many viewers are frustrated by subtitle errors, limited availability, restricted language choices, and the lack of personalisation options such as changing size, colour, font.
The research questions that centre our work
We aim to bring people together, encourage collaboration, and support research projects focused on answering the following research questions…
Subtitling Audiences Network 