The EBU's Subtitling Group (ECI-DFXP) will meet on 18th January 2011 to check the requirements for the new XML/MXF subtitling format it is to recommend on. Broadcasters / subtitlers are invited to participate in the meeting (physically or online). The Group is led by Larissa Görner (IRT) and Brendan Mallon (BBC).
Requirements
The current draft requirements cover a wide range of characteristics, ranging from requirements on the placement and styling of subtitles to the compatibility with existing formats and multi-stream support. Still the main requirements are quite basic and intended to cover most of the practical usage. The goal is certainly not to overspecify the format, rather the contrary.
Practical approach
The EBU's DFXP Group has a very practical approach. The participants are well-aware that new file-based TV production facilities call for flexible and interoperable solutions and modesty rather than too large a set of features. This is also reflected in comments received from broadcasters.
Join the meeting
If you are working in the subtitling field, you are warmly invited to join the meeting on 18th January at the EBU in Geneva (CH). If you wish to participate, but cannot join physically, jou can attend online using the (free) EBU WebEx facility. To learn more about the Group's current status, see this hand-out. To join the meeting, simply drop an e-mail to: Frans de Jong (EBU). The latest requirements and first recommendation draft can be found in the DFXP Group's workspace. If you don't have access, but would like a copy, e-mail Frans too.