What Is an SCC File?

Direct definition

SCC (Scenarist Closed Caption) is a file format that stores CEA-608 caption data as hexadecimal byte pairs with timecodes. It is common in North American broadcast and finishing workflows.

The sections below explain how SCC is used in transcription and subtitle work, what people often mix up, and which VideoText workflow applies when the next step is a file or review pass.

Key takeaways

• SCC is caption data for 608/708 pipelines, not a casual subtitle edit format.
• Converting SCC to SRT loses channel and positioning information unless the tool maps it.
• Do not assume every “caption file” is SRT.

How SCC is used

Finishing tools encode pop-on or roll-up captions into 608 byte sequences. Players and broadcast encoders — not web <track> elements — are the usual consumers.

Related terms

• closed captions
• caption file
• TTML
• All glossary terms

Sources

1. FCC: Closed captioning of televised video programming (47 CFR § 79.1)