Grammy Subtitle Controversy Explained: What Happened During Bad Bunny’s Set?
By Chloe Bennett
Federal Communications Commission regulations govern closed captioning under Section 713 of the Communications Act (47 CFR § 79.1). The law mandates that non-exempt broadcast stations provide closed captioning to ensure video programming is accessible to persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. However, the legal framework contains a blind spot that networks have exploited for decades.
The FCC requires that English broadcasts carry English captions, and Spanish broadcasts on dedicated Spanish-language networks (such as Univision or Telemundo) carry Spanish captions. The rules failed to account for hybrid, multilingual telecasts on dominant English networks. When an artist performs in Spanish on CBS, NBC, or Fox, the network is not legally mandated to provide simultaneous Spanish translation or Spanish transcriptions on the primary CC1 feed.
Viewers who depend on captions are left with fragmented options. Secondary caption streams (such as CC3) can theoretically carry Spanish text, but domestic televisions rarely auto-detect secondary channels. Broadcasters have historically resisted running open subtitles on-screen during live performances, fearing that text overlays might disrupt the visual aesthetics of the show. The Grammy blunder demonstrated that treating non-English dialogue as an invisible afterthought carries far greater reputational costs than showing on-screen text.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
