diff --git a/library/src/androidTest/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlColorParserTest.java b/library/src/androidTest/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlColorParserTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..922b054011
--- /dev/null
+++ b/library/src/androidTest/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlColorParserTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package com.google.android.exoplayer.text.ttml;
+
+import android.graphics.Color;
+import android.test.InstrumentationTestCase;
+
+/**
+ * Unit test for <code>TtmlColorParser</code>.
+ */
+public class TtmlColorParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
+
+  public void testHexCodeParsing() {
+    assertEquals(Color.WHITE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("#ffffff"));
+    assertEquals(Color.WHITE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("#ffffffff"));
+    assertEquals(Color.parseColor("#00ffffff"), TtmlColorParser.parseColor("#00ffffff"));
+    assertEquals(Color.parseColor("#12341234"), TtmlColorParser.parseColor("#12341234"));
+  }
+
+  public void testColorNameParsing() {
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.TRANSPARENT, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("transparent"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.BLACK, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("black"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.GRAY, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("gray"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.SILVER, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("silver"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.WHITE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("white"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.MAROON, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("maroon"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.RED, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("red"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.PURPLE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("purple"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.FUCHSIA, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("fuchsia"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.MAGENTA, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("magenta"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.GREEN, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("green"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.LIME, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("lime"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.OLIVE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("olive"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("yellow"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.NAVY, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("navy"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.BLUE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("blue"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.TEAL, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("teal"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.AQUA, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("aqua"));
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.CYAN, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("cyan"));
+  }
+
+  public void testParseUnknownColor() {
+    try {
+      TtmlColorParser.parseColor("colorOfAnElectron");
+      fail();
+    } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+      // expected
+    }
+  }
+
+  public void testParseNull() {
+    try {
+      TtmlColorParser.parseColor(null);
+      fail();
+    } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+      // expected
+    }
+  }
+
+  public void testParseEmpty() {
+    try {
+      TtmlColorParser.parseColor("");
+      fail();
+    } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+      // expected
+    }
+  }
+
+  public void testRgbColorParsing() {
+    assertEquals(Color.WHITE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgb(255,255,255)"));
+    // spaces do not matter
+    assertEquals(Color.WHITE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("   rgb (      255, 255, 255)"));
+  }
+
+  public void testRgbColorParsing_rgbValuesOutOfBounds() {
+    int outOfBounds = TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgb(999, 999, 999)");
+    int color = Color.rgb(999, 999, 999);
+    // behave like framework Color behaves
+    assertEquals(color, outOfBounds);
+  }
+
+  public void testRgbColorParsing_rgbValuesNegative() {
+    try {
+      TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgb(-4, 55, 209)");
+      fail();
+    } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+      // expected
+    }
+  }
+
+  public void testRgbaColorParsing() {
+    assertEquals(Color.WHITE, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgba(255,255,255,0)"));
+    assertEquals(Color.argb(0, 255, 255, 255), TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgba(255,255,255,255)"));
+    assertEquals(Color.BLACK, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"));
+    assertEquals(Color.argb(0, 0, 0, 0), TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgba(0, 0, 0, 255)"));
+    assertEquals(Color.RED, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgba(255, 0, 0, 0)"));
+    assertEquals(Color.argb(0, 255, 0, 0), TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgba(255, 0, 0, 255)"));
+    assertEquals(Color.argb(205, 255, 0, 0), TtmlColorParser.parseColor("rgba(255, 0, 0, 50)"));
+  }
+}
diff --git a/library/src/androidTest/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlParserTest.java b/library/src/androidTest/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlParserTest.java
index 9d5d953977..4133c3ce3d 100644
--- a/library/src/androidTest/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlParserTest.java
+++ b/library/src/androidTest/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlParserTest.java
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ package com.google.android.exoplayer.text.ttml;
 
 import com.google.android.exoplayer.text.Cue;
 
-import android.graphics.Color;
 import android.test.InstrumentationTestCase;
 import android.text.Layout;
 import android.text.SpannableStringBuilder;
@@ -67,8 +66,8 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
     TtmlNode body = queryChildrenForTag(root, TtmlNode.TAG_BODY, 0);
     TtmlNode firstDiv = queryChildrenForTag(body, TtmlNode.TAG_DIV, 0);
     TtmlStyle firstPStyle = queryChildrenForTag(firstDiv, TtmlNode.TAG_P, 0).style;
-    assertEquals(Color.parseColor("yellow"), firstPStyle.getColor());
-    assertEquals(Color.parseColor("blue"), firstPStyle.getBackgroundColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.parseColor("yellow"), firstPStyle.getColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.parseColor("blue"), firstPStyle.getBackgroundColor());
     assertEquals("serif", firstPStyle.getFontFamily());
     assertEquals(TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC, firstPStyle.getStyle());
     assertTrue(firstPStyle.isUnderline());
@@ -78,24 +77,43 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
     TtmlSubtitle subtitle = getSubtitle(INLINE_ATTRIBUTES_TTML_FILE);
     assertEquals(4, subtitle.getEventTimeCount());
     assertSpans(subtitle, 20, "text 2", "sansSerif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_ITALIC,
-        Color.CYAN, Color.parseColor("lime"), false, true, null);
+        TtmlColorParser.CYAN, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("lime"), false, true, null);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * regression test for devices on JellyBean where some named colors are not correctly defined
+   * on framework level. Tests that <i>lime</i> resolves to <code>#FF00FF00</code> not
+   * <code>#00FF00</code>.
+   *
+   * See: https://github.com/android/platform_frameworks_base/blob/jb-mr2-release/
+   *          graphics/java/android/graphics/Color.java#L414
+   *      https://github.com/android/platform_frameworks_base/blob/kitkat-mr2.2-release/
+   *          graphics/java/android/graphics/Color.java#L414
+   *
+   * @throws IOException thrown if reading subtitle file fails.
+   */
+  public void testLime() throws IOException {
+    TtmlSubtitle subtitle = getSubtitle(INLINE_ATTRIBUTES_TTML_FILE);
+    assertEquals(4, subtitle.getEventTimeCount());
+    assertSpans(subtitle, 20, "text 2", "sansSerif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_ITALIC,
+        TtmlColorParser.CYAN, TtmlColorParser.LIME, false, true, null);
   }
 
   public void testInheritGlobalStyle() throws IOException {
     TtmlSubtitle subtitle = getSubtitle(INHERIT_STYLE_TTML_FILE);
     assertEquals(2, subtitle.getEventTimeCount());
     assertSpans(subtitle, 10, "text 1", "serif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC,
-        Color.BLUE, Color.YELLOW, true, false, null);
+        TtmlColorParser.BLUE, TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, true, false, null);
   }
 
   public void testInheritGlobalStyleOverriddenByInlineAttributes() throws IOException {
     TtmlSubtitle subtitle = getSubtitle(INHERIT_STYLE_OVERRIDE_TTML_FILE);
     assertEquals(4, subtitle.getEventTimeCount());
 
-    assertSpans(subtitle, 10, "text 1", "serif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC, Color.BLUE,
-        Color.YELLOW, true, false, null);
-    assertSpans(subtitle, 20, "text 2", "sansSerif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_ITALIC, Color.RED,
-        Color.YELLOW, true, false, null);
+    assertSpans(subtitle, 10, "text 1", "serif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC, TtmlColorParser.BLUE,
+        TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, true, false, null);
+    assertSpans(subtitle, 20, "text 2", "sansSerif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_ITALIC, TtmlColorParser.RED,
+        TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, true, false, null);
   }
 
   public void testInheritGlobalAndParent() throws IOException {
@@ -103,9 +121,10 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
     assertEquals(4, subtitle.getEventTimeCount());
 
     assertSpans(subtitle, 10, "text 1", "sansSerif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_NORMAL,
-        Color.RED, Color.parseColor("lime"), false, true, Layout.Alignment.ALIGN_CENTER);
+        TtmlColorParser.RED, TtmlColorParser.parseColor("lime"), false, true,
+        Layout.Alignment.ALIGN_CENTER);
     assertSpans(subtitle, 20, "text 2", "serif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC,
-        Color.BLUE, Color.YELLOW, true, true, Layout.Alignment.ALIGN_CENTER);
+        TtmlColorParser.BLUE, TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, true, true, Layout.Alignment.ALIGN_CENTER);
   }
 
   public void testInheritMultipleStyles() throws IOException {
@@ -113,7 +132,7 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
     assertEquals(12, subtitle.getEventTimeCount());
 
     assertSpans(subtitle, 10, "text 1", "sansSerif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC,
-        Color.BLUE, Color.YELLOW, false, true, null);
+        TtmlColorParser.BLUE, TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, false, true, null);
   }
 
   public void testInheritMultipleStylesWithoutLocalAttributes() throws IOException {
@@ -121,7 +140,7 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
     assertEquals(12, subtitle.getEventTimeCount());
 
     assertSpans(subtitle, 20, "text 2", "sansSerif", TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC,
-        Color.BLUE, Color.BLACK, false, true, null);
+        TtmlColorParser.BLUE, TtmlColorParser.BLACK, false, true, null);
 
   }
 
@@ -130,7 +149,7 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
     assertEquals(12, subtitle.getEventTimeCount());
 
     assertSpans(subtitle, 30, "text 2.5", "sansSerifInline", TtmlStyle.STYLE_ITALIC,
-        Color.RED, Color.YELLOW, true, true, null);
+        TtmlColorParser.RED, TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, true, true, null);
   }
 
   public void testEmptyStyleAttribute() throws IOException {
@@ -175,16 +194,16 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
 
     TtmlStyle style = globalStyles.get("s2");
     assertEquals("serif", style.getFontFamily());
-    assertEquals(Color.RED, style.getBackgroundColor());
-    assertEquals(Color.BLACK, style.getColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.RED, style.getBackgroundColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.BLACK, style.getColor());
     assertEquals(TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC, style.getStyle());
     assertTrue(style.isLinethrough());
 
     style = globalStyles.get("s3");
     // only difference: color must be RED
-    assertEquals(Color.RED, style.getColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.RED, style.getColor());
     assertEquals("serif", style.getFontFamily());
-    assertEquals(Color.RED, style.getBackgroundColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.RED, style.getBackgroundColor());
     assertEquals(TtmlStyle.STYLE_BOLD_ITALIC, style.getStyle());
     assertTrue(style.isLinethrough());
   }
@@ -224,8 +243,8 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
     TtmlStyle style = queryChildrenForTag(div, TtmlNode.TAG_P, 0).style;
 
     assertNotNull(style);
-    assertEquals(Color.BLACK, style.getBackgroundColor());
-    assertEquals(Color.YELLOW, style.getColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.BLACK, style.getBackgroundColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, style.getColor());
     assertEquals(TtmlStyle.STYLE_ITALIC, style.getStyle());
     assertEquals("sansSerif", style.getFontFamily());
     assertFalse(style.isUnderline());
@@ -243,8 +262,8 @@ public final class TtmlParserTest extends InstrumentationTestCase {
     TtmlStyle style = queryChildrenForTag(div, TtmlNode.TAG_P, 0).style;
 
     assertNotNull(style);
-    assertEquals(Color.BLACK, style.getBackgroundColor());
-    assertEquals(Color.YELLOW, style.getColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.BLACK, style.getBackgroundColor());
+    assertEquals(TtmlColorParser.YELLOW, style.getColor());
     assertEquals(TtmlStyle.STYLE_ITALIC, style.getStyle());
     assertEquals("sansSerif", style.getFontFamily());
     assertFalse(style.isUnderline());
diff --git a/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlColorParser.java b/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlColorParser.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4a519dae7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlColorParser.java
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package com.google.android.exoplayer.text.ttml;
+
+import com.google.android.exoplayer.util.Assertions;
+import com.google.android.exoplayer.util.Util;
+
+import android.text.TextUtils;
+
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+/**
+ * Parser to parse ttml color value expression
+ * (http://www.w3.org/TR/ttml1/#style-value-color)
+ */
+/*package*/ final class TtmlColorParser {
+
+  private static final String RGB = "rgb";
+  private static final String RGBA = "rgba";
+
+  private static final Pattern RGB_PATTERN = Pattern.compile(
+      "^rgb\\((\\d{1,3}),(\\d{1,3}),(\\d{1,3})\\)$");
+
+  private static final Pattern RGBA_PATTERN = Pattern.compile(
+      "^rgba\\((\\d{1,3}),(\\d{1,3}),(\\d{1,3}),(\\d{1,3})\\)$");
+
+
+  static final int TRANSPARENT = 0x00000000;
+  static final int BLACK = 0xFF000000;
+  static final int SILVER = 0xFFC0C0C0;
+  static final int GRAY = 0xFF808080;
+  static final int WHITE = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+  static final int MAROON = 0xFF800000;
+  static final int RED = 0xFFFF0000;
+  static final int PURPLE = 0xFF800080;
+  static final int FUCHSIA = 0xFFFF00FF;
+  static final int MAGENTA = FUCHSIA;
+  static final int GREEN = 0xFF008000;
+  static final int LIME = 0xFF00FF00;
+  static final int OLIVE = 0xFF808000;
+  static final int YELLOW = 0xFFFFFF00;
+  static final int NAVY = 0xFF000080;
+  static final int BLUE = 0xFF0000FF;
+  static final int TEAL = 0xFF008080;
+  static final int AQUA = 0x00FFFFFF;
+  static final int CYAN = 0xFF00FFFF;
+
+  private static final Map<String, Integer> COLOR_NAME_MAP;
+  static {
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP = new HashMap<>();
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("transparent", TRANSPARENT);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("black", BLACK);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("silver", SILVER);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("gray", GRAY);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("white", WHITE);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("maroon", MAROON);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("red", RED);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("purple", PURPLE);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("fuchsia", FUCHSIA);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("magenta", MAGENTA);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("green", GREEN);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("lime", LIME);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("olive", OLIVE);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("yellow", YELLOW);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("navy", NAVY);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("blue", BLUE);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("teal", TEAL);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("aqua", AQUA);
+    COLOR_NAME_MAP.put("cyan", CYAN);
+  }
+
+  public static int parseColor(String colorExpression) {
+    Assertions.checkArgument(!TextUtils.isEmpty(colorExpression));
+    colorExpression = colorExpression.replace(" ", "");
+    if (colorExpression.charAt(0) == '#') {
+      // Use a long to avoid rollovers on #ffXXXXXX
+      long color = Long.parseLong(colorExpression.substring(1), 16);
+      if (colorExpression.length() == 7) {
+        // Set the alpha value
+        color |= 0x00000000ff000000;
+      } else if (colorExpression.length() != 9) {
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+      }
+      return (int) color;
+    } else if (colorExpression.startsWith(RGBA)) {
+      Matcher matcher = RGBA_PATTERN.matcher(colorExpression);
+      if (matcher.matches()) {
+        return argb(
+          255 - Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(4), 10),
+          Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(1), 10),
+          Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(2), 10),
+          Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(3), 10)
+        );
+      }
+    } else if (colorExpression.startsWith(RGB)) {
+      Matcher matcher = RGB_PATTERN.matcher(colorExpression);
+      if (matcher.matches()) {
+        return rgb(
+          Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(1), 10),
+          Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(2), 10),
+          Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(3), 10)
+        );
+      }
+    } else {
+      // we use our own color map
+      Integer color = COLOR_NAME_MAP.get(Util.toLowerInvariant(colorExpression));
+      if (color != null) {
+        return color;
+      }
+    }
+    throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+  }
+
+  private static int argb(int alpha, int red, int green, int blue) {
+    return (alpha << 24) | (red << 16) | (green << 8) | blue;
+  }
+
+  private static int rgb(int red, int green, int blue) {
+    return argb(0xFF, red, green, blue);
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlParser.java b/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlParser.java
index a9e6c1b99a..87670e7f8b 100644
--- a/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlParser.java
+++ b/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer/text/ttml/TtmlParser.java
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import com.google.android.exoplayer.util.MimeTypes;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer.util.ParserUtil;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer.util.Util;
 
-import android.graphics.Color;
 import android.text.Layout;
 import android.util.Log;
 
@@ -207,7 +206,7 @@ public final class TtmlParser implements SubtitleParser {
         case TtmlNode.ATTR_TTS_BACKGROUND_COLOR:
           style = createIfNull(style);
           try {
-            style.setBackgroundColor(Color.parseColor(attributeValue));
+            style.setBackgroundColor(TtmlColorParser.parseColor(attributeValue));
           } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
             Log.w(TAG, "failed parsing background value: '" + attributeValue + "'");
           }
@@ -215,7 +214,7 @@ public final class TtmlParser implements SubtitleParser {
         case TtmlNode.ATTR_TTS_COLOR:
           style = createIfNull(style);
           try {
-            style.setColor(Color.parseColor(attributeValue));
+            style.setColor(TtmlColorParser.parseColor(attributeValue));
           } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
             Log.w(TAG, "failed parsing color value: '" + attributeValue + "'");
           }