Methods, systems and devices for characterizing user viewing behavior are described. A method of tracking user viewing includes presenting media content to a user via a media device, the media content including closed-caption information, and determining that a user has initiated, at a first time, a user interface event (e.g., a “trick-mode” event) that modifies a playback rate of the media content. An offset time is determined, corresponding to a difference between the first time and a second time corresponding to an occurrence of a unique string within the closed-caption information Viewing behavior of the user is then characterized based on the media content, the offset time relative to the unique string, and an event type associated with the user interface event.