+    def process_subtitles(self, video_id, normal_subtitles, automatic_captions):
+        """Select the requested subtitles and their format"""
+        available_subs = {}
+        if normal_subtitles and self.params.get('writesubtitles'):
+            available_subs.update(normal_subtitles)
+        if automatic_captions and self.params.get('writeautomaticsub'):
+            for lang, cap_info in automatic_captions.items():
+                if lang not in available_subs:
+                    available_subs[lang] = cap_info
+
+        if (not self.params.get('writesubtitles') and not
+                self.params.get('writeautomaticsub') or not
+                available_subs):
+            return None
+
+        if self.params.get('allsubtitles', False):
+            requested_langs = available_subs.keys()
+        else:
+            if self.params.get('subtitleslangs', False):
+                requested_langs = self.params.get('subtitleslangs')
+            elif 'en' in available_subs:
+                requested_langs = ['en']
+            else:
+                requested_langs = [list(available_subs.keys())[0]]
+
+        formats_query = self.params.get('subtitlesformat', 'best')
+        formats_preference = formats_query.split('/') if formats_query else []
+        subs = {}
+        for lang in requested_langs:
+            formats = available_subs.get(lang)
+            if formats is None:
+                self.report_warning('%s subtitles not available for %s' % (lang, video_id))
+                continue
+            for ext in formats_preference:
+                if ext == 'best':
+                    f = formats[-1]
+                    break
+                matches = list(filter(lambda f: f['ext'] == ext, formats))
+                if matches:
+                    f = matches[-1]
+                    break
+            else:
+                f = formats[-1]
+                self.report_warning(
+                    'No subtitle format found matching "%s" for language %s, '
+                    'using %s' % (formats_query, lang, f['ext']))
+            subs[lang] = f
+        return subs
+