Elusive closed captions

[CeciliaM]

We have a multisystem DVD player and TV, in Italy, so we are able to watch US-made commercial DVDs with subtitles, including for the hearing impaired. However, some US DVDs (of British TV programs), labeled as having closed captions, do not show the captions either on the TV/DVD player or on the Mac (European bought, DVD player formated for US disks).

Do we need a separate decoder? Should it be purchased in the US or in Italy?

Many thanks for your help.

[Baldrick]

You need a TV with closed captions support and most tvs in europe does not support that. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_captioning

But you can use a software dvd player on your computer like KMPlayer and maybe mplayer for mac, http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/27163 .

[CeciliaM]

Thanks very much. The Mac DVD Player does support closed captioning -- some of the time. What is mysterious is why it works with some disks and not others. I'll try the link you suggest. Evidently the TV/DVD setup is hopeless.