Why automated subtitles are a must-have for church live streams

By Jonathan Louvis

When it comes to watching video online, things have changed—fast.

More than 80% of Gen Z and 70% of Millennials now watch videos with subtitles on, even when they can hear just fine. Whether it’s out of preference, habit, or convenience, one thing is clear: captions have become part of how we watch.

And it’s not just a trend. For people who are hard of hearing, watching in a second language, or tuning in from a noisy room, subtitles aren’t a nice-to-have—they’re essential.

If your church is streaming services or events online, using automated subtitles isn’t just about accessibility. It’s about helping more people actually engage with what you’re saying.

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Boost engagement and viewer retention

Subtitles make your content easier to follow.

Whether someone is catching the stream on a bus ride or multitasking while making dinner, captions help them stay locked in. They can see what’s being said, even if they miss a word or two out loud. That keeps people watching longer and creates more opportunity for the message to land.

Subtitled content consistently outperforms non-captioned videos in watch time and completion rates. That’s a simple change that makes a big difference.

Make your live stream more accessible

The church should be the most welcoming place on earth. That includes your digital spaces too.

Adding subtitles to your live stream shows people with hearing loss that you see them. It helps multilingual viewers engage in their heart language. It opens up your ministry to people who may have otherwise felt left out of the experience.

Accessibility isn’t just a checkbox. It’s a way of saying, you belong here.

Save time with effortless automation

Resi’s Automated Subtitles make it easy to do the right thing without adding more to your plate.

Whether it’s a live service or a scheduled midweek event, you can add subtitles with just a few clicks. No separate software, no uploading, no fuss.

Even better—once your stream is over, those subtitles are saved automatically with your video. That means every on-demand viewer gets the same accessible experience without you having to do anything extra.

Improve social reach and silent video engagement

You’ve probably seen it—videos autoplay on social media, but they start with the sound off.

If there’s no audio and no subtitles, most people keep scrolling. But with captions? They’ll tune in.

Subtitles turn a scroll-past moment into a moment of impact. They help your message show up clearly, even when someone never hits unmute.

Built into Resi’s rock-solid streaming platform

Everything Resi does is built for reliability, and Automated Subtitles are no exception.

Our technology uses the Resilient Streaming Protocol (RSP), which means your stream is protected from interruptions—even through internet drops or spikes in traffic. The same care that goes into making your stream smooth and glitch-free also goes into delivering your subtitles, without any delay or manual work.

It just works. So your team can focus on ministry, not troubleshooting.

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Get started with automated subtitles today

If your church is already streaming with Resi, it only takes a moment to turn on Automated Subtitles.

If you’re just exploring Resi for the first time, we’d love to show you how everything works—subtitles included. From pricing to setup to feature walkthroughs, our team is here to help you take the next step.

Let’s make your stream more engaging, more accessible, and more impactful for every viewer.

FAQs about automated subtitles

What are automated subtitles?
Automated subtitles are real-time captions generated by Resi’s platform during your live or scheduled stream. They turn spoken content into on-screen text to help more viewers follow along.

Do automated subtitles help with viewer retention?
Yes. Viewers are more likely to stay engaged, finish the video, and understand the message when subtitles are available—especially in noisy or mobile environments.

Are subtitles saved with the video for on-demand playback?
Absolutely. Resi’s subtitles are automatically saved alongside your recorded stream, so viewers watching later get the same accessible experience as those tuning in live.

Can I use automated subtitles on social media videos?
Yes! Since subtitles are saved with the video, they’ll appear even when your content is shared or reposted on social media. That makes your video more engaging and understandable in silent feeds.

Why do younger generations prefer subtitles?
Studies show Gen Z and Millennials often watch videos with subtitles out of habit, preference, or necessity. Subtitles make it easier to understand content without needing to crank the volume—especially when watching in public or on the go.

Is this feature available with all Resi streams?
Automated Subtitles can be enabled on any live or scheduled Resi web event and work seamlessly with Resi On Demand. They’re built into the platform to make your life easier.

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Jonathan Louvis

Jon is the SEO Marketing Manager at Pushpay and Resi. Most recently, he worked as the Communications Director for his local church in Ohio. Having worked in the Church, he's able to bring a unique perspective to his role. When he's not busy creating content, you can find him spending time with his wife, son, and dog, or indulging his love of fantasy football. Jon holds a B.S in Marketing Management and an M.B.A from Western Governors University.

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