Harmonic Partners with NCI to Revolutionize Closed Captioning Technology
- Harmonic partners with NCI to enhance closed captioning in its XOS Advanced Media Processor, streamlining workflows for broadcasters.
- The integration of NCI's CaptionSentry allows for automatic captioning without a separate encoder, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
- This collaboration positions Harmonic as a leader in accessible media solutions, aligning with growing demand for inclusive content.
Harmonic and NCI Forge Partnership to Enhance Closed Captioning Technology
In a significant development for the media technology landscape, Harmonic has partnered with the National Captioning Institute (NCI) to enhance closed captioning capabilities within its XOS Advanced Media Processor. This collaboration, announced on March 25, 2025, introduces an integrated solution that allows users to seamlessly incorporate captioning into their streams or broadcasts without the need for a separate closed caption encoder. By eliminating this additional component, the partnership offers substantial cost savings while streamlining the workflow for broadcasters and content creators.
The integration of NCI's CaptionSentry, which provides both automatic speech recognition (ASR) and human caption data, into Harmonic's XOS Media Processor represents a major advancement in the efficiency of captioning workflows. Users can now transcode high-quality caption data into ATSC transports with minimal latency, significantly enhancing the viewer experience. This development aligns with NCI's mission of improving accessibility, as emphasized by Meredith Patterson, NCI's President and COO. The partnership was informed by the needs of a mutual customer who sought a more consolidated solution, enabling automated captioning through a straightforward configuration process involving only an RTMP audio stream.
Gil Rudge, Senior Vice President at Harmonic, underscores that the successful integration of NCI's advanced captioning capabilities not only elevates the XOS Media Processor's functionality but also sets the stage for future innovations in broadcast technology. As the demand for accessible media continues to grow, this partnership positions Harmonic at the forefront of delivering comprehensive solutions that cater to diverse audience needs. Attendees at the upcoming NAB Show in Las Vegas, scheduled for April 6-9, can witness a live demonstration of this groundbreaking technology at Harmonic's Booth W2821, showcasing the potential impact on the industry.
In addition to the technological advancements, the collaboration reflects a broader commitment to accessibility in media. NCI, a nonprofit organization with over 40 years of experience in live closed captioning, combines human expertise with artificial intelligence to offer premium captioning and subtitling services across various platforms. This partnership not only enhances Harmonic’s offerings but also contributes to a more inclusive media environment, ensuring that content is accessible to all audiences.
For more details about NCI and its mission-driven approach to captioning, visit www.ncic. The partnership with Harmonic marks a pivotal step in leveraging technology to increase accessibility in media, a crucial aspect of modern broadcasting.
