The Criterion Channel -- Technical Issues and Questions

[HardNight'sDay]

I have the exact same problem. I send them an email in the hopes they will fixed this bug.

[Roger Ryan]

Same issue here, although I learned pretty quickly that just turning off the descriptive captions/subtitles in the Roku settings would do the trick. Is this just a Criterion Channel-created issue? I'm finding that the HBO Max app and the Tubi app (!) will also force subtitles when they start up, although the problem doesn't return when pausing programming for those apps.

The most frustrating thing I encountered was watching Shoot The Piano Player on Criterion and the ugly white letters with heavy black box background captions was the only option for viewing with subtitles.

[brundlefly]

Except that every time I pause or hit the replay button the subtitles automatically re-engage, even though set to stay off (not on, not on only during replay). It will carry over to the next app I pull up after Criterion, but in those, when I turn them off, they stay off for good.

[Roger Ryan]

Except that every time I pause or hit the replay button the subtitles automatically re-engage, even though set to stay off (not on, not on only during replay). It will carry over to the next app I pull up after Criterion, but in those, when I turn them off, they stay off for good.

Yes, this is exactly what I was referring to in my previous post. I'll only add that even when unplugging Roku and, after plugging it back in, choosing HBO Max before selecting Criterion, the captions will still appear automatically.

[brundlefly]

Except that every time I pause or hit the replay button the subtitles automatically re-engage, even though set to stay off (not on, not on only during replay). It will carry over to the next app I pull up after Criterion, but in those, when I turn them off, they stay off for good.

Yes, this is exactly what I was referring to in my previous post. I'll only add that even when unplugging Roku and, after plugging it back in, choosing HBO Max before selecting Criterion, the captions will still appear automatically.

Apologies, when you said "I learned pretty quickly that just turning off the descriptive captions/subtitles in the Roku settings would do the trick" I thought that meant that your subs didn't re-engage at the next pause/replay.

Haven't been monitoring it with consistency, but mostly when I call up Hulu or Dropout without first having played a video on Criterion the subs have not engaged on those apps. It also has not been consistent on Criterion itself. As with Zontar on the last page, I first had it happen on Violent Saturday, and it has happened on several of the Criterion-produced talking head shows I've seen. But I don't think the subs have ever kicked in when I've pulled up 'Salem's Lot (which I've been using as background noise lately) and just now, after clicking in and out of selections on other apps, I checked the Criterion interview during which the subs constantly re-engaged just yesterday and they did not do so.

[Roger Ryan]

... But I don't think the subs have never kicked in when I've pulled up 'Salem's Lot (which I've been using as background noise lately)...

Unfortunately for me,Salem's Lot re-engaged the captions every time I paused it... and given it's three-plus hour run time, I hit pause more than usual for snack and bathroom breaks!

[Lowry_Sam]

There seems to be 2 separate problems: The Criterion Channel turning on titles whenever you pause & Roku changing the device's default settings behind the scenes whenever an app turns on titles. It seems to me there is a shortsightedness in design: "closed caption" & "subtitles" are actually 2 separate things, but end up getting treated the same by app/harware designers.