Aberdeen Broadcast Services is honored to confidently proclaim that we have secured our position as a trusted and reliable vendor of captioning and digital file delivery throughout the #2 Designated Market Area in the United States, according to recent estimates by The Nielsen Company. Our AberFast Digital File Delivery is now in place to deliver broadcast-ready long-form programming to all of the major stations in the Los Angeles market including KCBS (CBS), KNBC (NBC), KTLA (CW), KABC (ABC), and KTTV (FOX).
To what do we attribute our success?
Station managers are able to free up the time of their engineers and traffic personnel from ingesting tapes or flipping individual client files flowing in from various producers. The content securely arrives at the station QC’d for broadcast in a custom play-server ready file codec/wrapper, approved file naming system, and properly embedded closed captions.
And for the producers? One single upload of the finished program to us and we’ll take it from there.
Local Television Designated Market Area Estimates
For producers of paid programming, it is essential to know your reach.
Los Angeles is the most populous city in the state of California, and the second-most populous in the U.S; after New York City. According to Forbes, Los Angeles is currently on pace to become the world’s third city with a trillion-dollar economy, following behind Tokyo and New York City. The average resident of L.A. has 20% more purchasing power than their counterparts in New York.
There are 5,523,800 Los Angeles TV homes, making up 4.85% of the entire US TV viewership. Here’s how the demographics breakdown and where LA ranks:
AberFast Station Partners in the Los Angeles Market Area
KABC-TV ABC & ABC Family
KCAL-TV Independent
KCBS-TV CBS
KCOP-TV MYTV
KDOC-TV Independent
KFTR-TV Univision
KJLA-TV LATV
KLCS-TV PBS SoCal
KMEX-TV Univision
KNBC-TV NBC
KOCE-TV PBS
KPXN-TV Ion Television
KTBN-TV Trinity Broadcast Network
KTLA-TV CW
KTTV-TV Fox
KVEA-TV Telemundo
KXLA-TV Independent
We are adding clients and stations on a regular basis all over the world. Please check out our FULL station map. It’s now close to 400 stations globally!
A recognizable anthem throughout Los Angeles, the song “I love LA” by Randy Newman is ringing in our ears. With over 18 million people in the greater Los Angeles market, there’s a lot to love. "We love it!"
Audible exhales could be heard throughout the nearly 1 million square feet of exhibit space as the final closing announcement was sent over the loudspeakers of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Some, involuntary gasps of panic from what was left of 103,000 NAB attendees that just realized they didn't make it successfully through the 4 halls of the convention; and others, sighs of relief from the exhibitors of the 1,700 companies as they realized that the past 31 hours of standing on their feet is over.
That closing message also marked the 7th consecutive year of Aberdeen Broadcast Services exhibiting in the South Lower Hall at the NAB Show. This time, with a new location and a fresh look. As we continue to grow as a company, so does the size of our booth and the gathering of our team.
Upgraded 20'x20' booth complete with a 10'x4' triangular overhead hanging sign.
In the years past, Aberdeen has had a nice presence in a 10'x20' space just beyond the main product demonstrations from Red Digital Cinema, Blackmagic Design, and Adobe Systems. This year we were right in the middle of all that activity adjacent to Amazon Web Services.
We could not have predicted the perfect balance of inquiries across our 3 divisions. Frequent visits from producers looking for further education on the new closed captioning laws. TV stations looking to continue to free up their resources in the tape-less world. International producers looking to expand their audiences with multilanguage translations. And, unexpectedly, a dozen universities whose attention has focused on captioning their online courses after the recent lawsuit filed against a couple of Ivy League schools.
This year saw new innovative video and broadcasting technologies introduced at a rate only Flash Gordon could keep up with. 8K display systems, 10-ounce Micro Cinema Cameras, a storm-chasing Jeep Wrangler that would make Bill Paxton salivate, and drones. Drones EVERYWHERE. And like the drones, attendance is soaring: in six years, the turnout has grown to over 21,000 and now represents 164 countries!
It’s also encouraging to see the overall growth in the broadcasting industry at large. After all, the NAB was originally founded as the National Association of Radio Broadcasters and it wasn't until 1951 that the name was changed to include television broadcasts. Now, just “broadcasters” seem to cover it all.
2015 Aberdeen Broadcast Services Exhibitors
(Left to right) Michael, Tony, Arif, Kyle, Matt D., Steve, Becky Isaacs, Nathan, Ryan, Ed, and Matt Cook.
NAB Show, THANK YOU and we’ll see you again next year. April 16-21, 2016.
One of the main goals of every producer is to try to reach the maximum amount of viewers every time their program airs. Apart from engaging content, time slots, and targeting the right regions, there is one simple thing EVERY producer can do. In this article, we will discuss why including Spanish captions is so important, how they work, and who is doing it.
Know Your Audience
First things first: Who is your audience? Perhaps it is as broad as every American across the nation. But do you know who they are? Can they understand your program?
Did you know that according to the United States Census Bureau, the U.S. had the second-largest Hispanic population in the world just behind Mexico [4]? That means there are more Spanish speakers in the U.S. than in Argentina and Spain!
If you live in the United States, you are among 54 million Hispanic people, of whom 38.3 million speak Spanish at home! That is 17% of the entire United States population [4].
And get this… the projected Hispanic population of the United States in 2060 is 128.8 million, which would be 31% of the nation’s population [4]!
Are you taking into consideration this huge audience with your programming? Have you thought about how many more people you could reach with your national TV broadcast, web videos, or DVD sales if you localized your programming with Spanish closed captioning, subtitles, or Spanish voice dubbing? Ministries in the know, like In Touch Ministries, have been doing this for years. Learn from the leaders.
The Secret: Experienced Broadcasters Use CC3
The simple truth is this: By offering captions in various languages, you automatically reach more viewers. Statistically, Spanish is the second most-used language in the United States [1] and there are more Spanish speakers in the U.S. than speakers of Chinese, French, German, Italian, Hawaiian, and the Native American languages combined. Spanish is the best place to start localizing your programming, and there is no faster, more cost-effective way than to utilize CC3.
If you are broadcasting in English, chances are you have already heard or thought about broadcasting Spanish captions. Some of you may already broadcast it via CC2, so why think about using CC3 [2]? Although broadcasting via CC1 and CC2 works well, both of these channels are embedded in field 1. By choosing CC3, which is embedded in field 2, you are able to provide the maximum bandwidth and allow for more accurately timed captions in both languages.
Also, in order to avoid bandwidth problems with early caption decoders [3], the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends bilingual programming to be broadcast via CC3. Many Spanish television networks, such as Univision and Telemundo, provide English captions for many of their Spanish programs in CC3. The standard nowadays has become to broadcast the original language’s captions on CC1, and then the alternative language’s captions on CC3.
All Ministries Should Consider Spanish Captions
In the Christian broadcasting industry, many ministries see the value of including Spanish captions. Take In Touch Ministries which has implemented the use of CC3 to offer Spanish captions for their English program, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley. This has allowed them to provide high-quality Spanish captions to their viewers across the country, and gain viewership with their message.
Any ministry that is investing to broadcast nationally, should not only be captioning in English but in Spanish too. There is approximately a 20% increase in viewership and you can get Spanish captions for a fraction of the cost you pay to broadcast your programming. The additional cost is minimal and usually discounted when English and Spanish captioning are done in tandem with the same captioning company.
Observe the languages spoken in your community and you’ll find English is most definitely not the only language understood by your neighbors, and it also isn't always the primary language of your national viewers. Give Spanish captioning a try!
If you have any questions regarding Spanish captioning via CC3 or would like to see what it would cost to add Spanish captions to your video programming, contact us.
More astounding facts about the Hispanic population in the U.S. can be found here: United States Census Bureau.
If you've ever watched an old noir film—the ones where the troubled narrator rambles on about his dire circumstances in worried existential grief—then you’re probably familiar with voice-over. Employed through various ways in cinema, for which it’s garnered iconic in pop culture today, the technique actually has a more common, practical use in day-to-day news and radio.
When an interviewee speaks a foreign language, production companies typically use voice actors to record over the original audio. This way, the viewer hears the interviewee in the background speaking his or her language, while the voice actor interprets. In most cases, the volume of the voice actor is much louder and lags seconds behind the original audio track. This voice-over technique is useful because it allows the viewer to both hear and understand the speaker’s words at the same time. This is typically referred to as UN-Style voice-over.
Another audiovisual process is called dubbing. Not to be confused with the electronic music genre (yes, that one), dubbing is when all the elements of sound are mixed including the original production track with any additional recordings; joined together, they make a complete soundtrack. In the video production world, the phrase “dubbing” is used when the original speaker’s audio track is replaced entirely by the voice actor’s. Contrary to voice-over (UN-Style), which preserves the original track underneath the voice actor, the dub must be carefully timed and synchronized to match the speaker’s lips, meaning, and even intonations. To be more specific, this is often referred to as lip-sync dubbing. As imagined, this process is arduous and lengthy; oftentimes, the voice actor is required to work with editors in a studio re-recording segments where the audio and visuals struggle to match.
Looking for someone to do your voice-over/dubbing work? Aberdeen wants to take care of it for you! For more information, please visit: AberLingo Language Services.
There's a common question: "Why would I need to pay for professional translation services if I have access to Google Translate?" However, there are numerous compelling reasons why Google Translate cannot replace the expertise of a native human speaker.
To begin, it's essential to understand how Google Translate operates. It functions like a computer, akin to how a search engine conducts a web search. Instead of phrases, it primarily deals with individual words, lacking comprehension of syntax, style, or grammar. Google Translate essentially dissects your sentence into words and attempts to replace each word with its translated counterpart. The outcome is often peculiar, disjointed, and occasionally humorous. Google Translate encounters difficulties with proper names, units of measurement, currencies, and other technical equivalents. Some amusing examples include translating "I love Sweden" to "I love Canada." There's even a website that takes an English phrase, translates it into several languages using Google Translate, and then back into English, resulting in hilarious outcomes reminiscent of the childhood game "telephone." For instance, the famous quote "To be or not to be, that is the question" transforms into "Or rather, it is a problem."
That said, Google Translate can be a handy tool when you're traveling in a foreign country and need to find a restroom, hail a taxi, or locate a hotel. However, when it comes to professional translation services, nothing can replace the expertise of native-speaking professionals who understand the nuances and intricacies of language. They have the ability to preserve the true meaning of the original text, ensuring that nothing is "lost in translation."
Numerous individuals within the United States who indulge in foreign cinema find solace in the presence of subtitled text on the screen, as it facilitates their comprehension of the film's content. However, it's worth noting that numerous films and various forms of programming also incorporate dubbing. Dubbing involves the recording of dialogue in a different language, which is then either superimposed or used in lieu of the original actor's speech. This approach grants viewers the ability to grasp the film's narrative without the necessity of reading subtitles. This method is preferred over subtitles in numerous countries and by a considerable number of viewers. Our clients often opt to dub their original English programming into various other languages, thereby expanding their audience globally.
I frequently encounter inquiries regarding the individuals responsible for orchestrating the entire voice dubbing process, and a multitude of questions arise pertaining to the role of the director. The team engaged in voice-over dubbing typically comprises a director, talented voice actors, an engineer, a producer, and often, the client themselves. Prior to the recording session, the native director undertakes a comprehensive review of the material. This involves identifying sections within the script that might pose challenges and bringing attention to these aspects before the recording commences. The producer is thoroughly briefed on the project's nuances and expectations, subsequently assuming the role of session facilitator alongside the director.
The talented voice actors are the individuals tasked with delivering the voice-over performances. The director wields authority over the script, ensuring that the guidelines are lucid for the voice actors and the engineer. Additionally, the director serves as an intermediary in translating interactions between the producer, client, and the voice actors, particularly if the voice actors are not proficient in English. The director is entrusted with guaranteeing that the voice actors deliver lines with precision, encompassing proper intonation, pronunciation, articulation of specific words, and accurate rendering of proper nouns, all while preserving the essence of the original language's style. The director might propose alterations to the script, rectify any mistakes made by the voice actors, and offer suggestions for re-reads should the producer or client seek a distinct interpretation.
Essentially, the director's role is pivotal in upholding the caliber of the voice-over, as their familiarity with the original language is crucial. This collaborative ensemble functions as a cohesive unit to generate top-tier dubbing, whether it's for full-length features, corporate training videos, promotional content, educational series, and more.
Looking for voice dubbing services, captioning, or file delivery services? Click here to send us a note as to how AberLingo, Aberdeen Broadcast Services' Languages department, might be able to help you.
Aberdeen Broadcasting Services was recently contacted to present a solution for a unique challenge: providing English to Spanish translations at a live event in which a pro-football player would be interviewed in front of both an English and Spanish speaking audience. Our solution? Translation through captions.
At first glance, this might not seem like a big deal, but other more conventional translating solutions wouldn’t cut it this time. A standing translator was not an option since more than half of the audience would still be English speakers. This would have also thrown off the flow of the informal interview-style producers desired. On the other hand, the logistical challenges of getting radios for the several hundred Spanish speakers in the audience meant radio translation wasn’t a feasible option either.
In order to make this a success, we had to make it over several hurdles. First: human resources and talent. This time we used in an in-house translator for the English to Spanish oral interpreting and we secured one of our most skilled Spanish live writers.
The second set of challenges were technical: the event would be held at a sports arena in San Diego, the translator would work out of Aberdeen’s offices in Orange County, and the writer worked out of Columbia. To solve this, the translator connected to the event through a phone line and audio coupler; the translator connected with the writer through Skype; and the writer dialed into the encoder at the sports arena.
The third set of challenges belonged to the linguistic realm. The guest speaker was a pro football quarterback talking about his experiences as a Christian in the pro college football and the NFL; this meant his speaking would be filled with a mix of Christian and football terminology. Also, the translator was Puerto Rican, the writer Colombian, and most of the audience was Mexican. This required the translator to use words and terminology that kept the accuracy, integrity, and feeling of what was being said in English, including football terminology, but that at the same time would be understood by both the writer and the audience.
The last challenge was practical and related to the audience’s experience: keeping the delay to a minimum. The goal was to keep the final Spanish captions limited to a 4 to 5-second delay from the time they were originally spoken. This only gave 2-3 seconds for both translation and writing, plus the 2 to 3-second delay that is unavoidable when doing live captions.
In the end, the event was a success. All these challenges were met with unprecedented coordination and communication. And most importantly, the Spanish speaking audience’s need was met with a timely and accurate translation.
What do you think of Aberdeen’s solution to this event? Would you have done things differently? We would love to hear your feedback.
Have you ever heard when people use foreign words, such as “feng shui” or “faux pas,” but they completely change the pronunciation to where you’re left wondering if they just made up a word? As a bilingual caption editor at Aberdeen, I come across this situation pretty often while working in multi-language projects.
Just picture a car infomercial in Spanish: Spanish-speaking people trying to sell you cars that have English, German, and sometimes even French names. I mean, “craisler taun an contri” might not really mean anything to you but when you look at the screen you can clearly see they are selling a Chrysler Town & Country minivan. More recently I started captioning a sports TV show in Spanish that follows the American Football games. At first I thought the challenge would be that I’m the farthest thing from a sports fan there is, but I found out that my challenge, once more, is the fact that the football teams and players use English pronunciations for their names, but the show is in Spanish. Perhaps it’s because I’m not a sports’ fan, but when the sports commentators throw in names like “Chan Li” or “Imarco Mur” at 500 words per minute, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely not “Sean Lee” or “DeMarco Murray.”
Despite these challenges, I enjoy working with these types of shows because I know that after thorough research, I’m able to present captions that even the biggest football fan will be able to enjoy. So the next time you stumble upon a Spanish-speaking show on TV, you might want to turn on that CC button and find out if the captions are selling you a “bosbaguen yi-ti-ai” or a “Volkswagen GTI.”
Though we are stuck in one location with one official language in one country, it doesn't mean the videos that we post on the Internet are limited to one's geographical location. It's time to go global since the Internet doesn't have limitations on audience, language, cultures, etc. Producers should aim to go global by adding different languages in the captioning/subtitling when they post their videos on the Web. This way they are getting exposure to billions of people in a very inexpensive way. However, this may be an obstacle when the know-how or technological skills are in the way.Read
How many ways are there to translate a word from one language to another? Sometimes it’s as simple as translating Dora the Explorer’s "¡vámonos!" (let’s go), but in Aberdeen’s Multi-Language Department, often times it’s a bit more complex than that.
I regularly work with Spanish translations from very competent people, and although these translations are already great, my job is to make them better. When reading them, it seems that I’m always faced with the same challenge: How do I make certain words neutral enough so that most Spanish-speaking people will understand them? The Spanish language is spoken in 20 different countries worldwide, making the task of choosing one single word very challenging.
A word that I came up with a couple of weeks ago was the translation for “hangover.” It was originally translated as “enguayabado.” When I first read this I was clueless as to what it meant. I had never heard this term before. It turns out that it’s pretty popular in South America. My supervisor, who lives in Spain, mentioned they use the word “resaca,” which I wasn’t familiar with either. Growing up in Mexico, I always heard people use the word “cruda” when talking about a hangover, so obviously I was leaning towards using that term.
Here at Aberdeen, every challenge is thoroughly analyzed before making a decision, and that’s why, after taking in consideration the audience that was going to be reading the subtitles, we decided to go with “cruda (resaca)”. Luckily we had enough time and space in the subtitles to use both terms!
Translation is definitely an art. Now let’s see how artistic I can be at translating this blog! Spanish version.
