In pre-recorded programmes where there are names or extra programme information that appear at the bottom of the screen, subtitles are placed in the lower third of the screen to avoid obscuring this.

With programmes with live content, such as News or Panorama, it is not known in advance if extra information will be displayed. With this in mind, subtitles are placed similarly as a precaution.

Conversely, for content such as live sport, the subtitles are traditionally placed at the very bottom of the screen to avoid blocking any sporting action. 

For those pre-recorded programmes where the subtitles are pre-prepared and pre-delivered, the default position is to place the subtitles at the bottom of the screen. We wouldn’t normally place subtitles in the middle of the screen for this type of content, unless there was a good reason to do so, i.e. a documentary may have someone talking with a name underneath, in which case we’d time the subtitles to briefly move up to avoid the name appearing and place subsequent subtitles at the bottom of the screen once the name disappeared. Or, as an example, if some significant plot action was happening in the lower part of the screen, we would endeavour to ensure this was not obscured by subtitles.

The BBC have very clear guidelines on where to position subtitles; we are very aware of the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing subtitle users and the importance of not covering up a speaker’s mouth or facial expressions.