Tightrope Media Systems is expanding the closed captioning options in its Cablecast Community Media broadcast automation, playout and content publishing platform with a new cloud-based captioning engine and enhanced third-party integration. Community broadcasters using Cablecast VIO servers can trigger automated captioning of both live and file-based content for all viewing platforms – including cable television, web, mobile, and OTT – directly from within the Cablecast user interface.

New interface controls in Cablecast version 7.4 allow users to add captions to live input feeds – including SDI or IP-based sources – and file-based programming. Intelligent speech-to-text conversion is performed using Cablecast’s new captioning engine running in the cloud, with a usage-based billing model.

For customers who prefer to use the enCaption4 automated captioning solution from ENCO Systems, expanded integration simplifies operations by letting users trigger enCaption4 from within Cablecast rather than utilizing separate software interfaces.

“Closed captioning continues to be an essential element of PEG broadcasters’ operations not only for compliance, but also for making their content easily accessible to hard-of-hearing members of their community,” said Steve Israelsky, President, Cablecast Community Media. “Cablecast 7.4 makes it even easier for broadcasters and content producers to add automated captions to their content, while our new cloud-based engine offers customers a cost-effective captioning option with no additional, up-front equipment or software investment.”