Optimizing timed text generation for live closed captions and subtitles

A method is provided in certain example embodiments, and may include receiving source timed text data and an associated time stamp, and rendering a representation of the received source timed text data within a textual array. The textual array includes at least one row having textual data associated with the received source timed text data contained therein. The method may further include producing at least one data document including row data associated with one or more rows of the textual array when the textual data of the at least one row has changed from a previously rendered on-screen representation of previously received source timed text data. The row data includes a change in textual data for one or more rows from a previously produced caption data document.