Not able to view subtitles from .ts file

[riksdaler]

I am not able to view subtitles for .ts files in VLC player. The files are recorded movies from DVB-T broadcasts with subtitles encoded as teletext on certain pages, e.g. swedish on page 199. In the subtitle menu in VLC player I can select subtitles per language, but they don't show up on the screen.

I can extract the subtitles from the .ts files using ProjectX to .srt files, so I know they are there. I have tried putting the .srt file in the same folder as the .ts file and with exactly the same name before the extension, VLC player then takes very long time to start when doubleclicking the movie. When the player is responding again, it is not possible to play the film at all. I also tried to drag and drop the .srt file onto VLC player window after the movie is loaded, then I can see in the bottom that the entire movie is parsed through, when completed I am able the use VLC player .. but no subtitles show up.

Finally, I tried downloading subtitle files for the corresponding movie, just in case there was something wrong with ProjectX generated files. Same result again, no subtitles...

I have had the same behaviour with 1.1.4 and 1.1.11.

I would appreciate if someone that successfully managed to get subtitles to work in VLC player for .ts files could let me know how to achieve this.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

External subtitles do not work with MPEG-TS. This is a known limitation due to TS not using zero-based timestamps.

You need to keep the original TS subtitle tracks (works for me).

[riksdaler]

Thanks. I have the original subtitles in SRT format, and they work in other tools, e.g DVD Flick. Which method do you use to view the subs? Manual opening them or by having them in the same folder as the movie?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

I told you: you cannot use SRT with MPEG-TS.

[riksdaler]

OK. I misunderstood your comment "You need to keep the original TS subtitle tracks (works for me)."

I still hope subtitle support for MPEG-TS is on the agenda for future VLC versions. Until then, I kindly suggest adding a message about this limitation when trying to open a sub file or selecting subs from the Video menu.

[caalip]

Did anyone ever come up with a solution about this? I can't even get the open file dialog to open. Version 1.1.5 on XP.

[riksdaler]

My own solution is that I use ProjectX to extract the subtitles to a SRT file, then run VirtualDUB-MPEG2 special variant with TextSub filter. This creates an output AVI file which has subtitles.

[akmarinov]

I have the same problem with VLC (playing .ts with .srt external subtitles), but the weird thing is that PotPlayer handles .ts + external srt just fine.
So there is a way to make it work...

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Repeat after me: "This a known limitation".

[frankielc]

@Rémi Denis-Courmont even though this may be a "known limitation" there must sure be a way to work around the problem as my LG tv set can read *.ts files with *.srt subtitles. It may well fall bellow the "wanted features" of VLC but should not be discarded as "impossible" as there are people who obvious have been able to work around it.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

It is a known limitation of VLC, not of the MPEG-TS format as such.

And if you think it is that easy to fix, you are more than welcome to post a patch to the developers, I think.

[Martijn23]

PotPlayer works fine, thanks for the tip.

I always play my ts. file with srt. file from a USB stick witch I put in my Samsung tv. The tv plays the file togheter automaticly.

Does anyone know how I can sync srt files with ts.?

[mederi]

I have just tried Subtitler (lite) with some .ts file. Elapsed time is available in VLC2, so the extension works just fine.