Contributed to the opencast/opencast repository by enhancing the WebVTT subtitle parsing flow to support Byte-Order Marks (BOM), addressing compatibility issues with BOM-bearing subtitle files. The solution integrated BOMInputStream within the Java-based parser to detect and strip BOMs in accordance with the WEBVTT specification, improving playback reliability across diverse clients. Comprehensive regression tests were developed to validate both BOM and non-BOM scenarios, ensuring ongoing stability and preventing future regressions. This work demonstrated proficiency in Java, file handling, and automated testing, delivering a focused feature that reduces parsing errors and broadens subtitle compatibility for the project’s media playback ecosystem.