diff --git a/youtube_transcript_api/_api.py b/youtube_transcript_api/_api.py
index 3cd602a..ef33e01 100644
--- a/youtube_transcript_api/_api.py
+++ b/youtube_transcript_api/_api.py
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ class YouTubeTranscriptApi():
         Formatter = formats.get_formatter(format)
         transcript = cls.list_transcripts(
             video_id,proxies, cookies).find_transcript(languages).fetch()
-        return ''.join(Formatter.format(transcript))
-    
+        return Formatter.format(transcript)
+
     @classmethod
     def _load_cookies(cls, cookies, video_id):
         cookie_jar = {}
diff --git a/youtube_transcript_api/test/test_api.py b/youtube_transcript_api/test/test_api.py
index dc552d4..3a09a63 100644
--- a/youtube_transcript_api/test/test_api.py
+++ b/youtube_transcript_api/test/test_api.py
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ class TestYouTubeTranscriptApi(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(
             transcript,
-            json.dumps([
+            [
                 {'text': 'Hey, this is just a test', 'start': 0.0, 'duration': 1.54},
                 {'text': 'this is not the original transcript', 'start': 1.54, 'duration': 4.16},
                 {'text': 'just something shorter, I made up for testing', 'start': 5.7, 'duration': 3.239}
-            ])
+            ]
         )
 
     def test_list_transcripts(self):
@@ -165,11 +165,11 @@ class TestYouTubeTranscriptApi(TestCase):
         )
         self.assertEqual(
             transcript,
-            json.dumps([
+            [
                 {'text': 'Hey, this is just a test', 'start': 0.0, 'duration': 1.54},
                 {'text': 'this is not the original transcript', 'start': 1.54, 'duration': 4.16},
                 {'text': 'just something shorter, I made up for testing', 'start': 5.7, 'duration': 3.239}
-            ])
+            ]
         )
     
     def test_get_transcript__with_cookies(self):
@@ -179,11 +179,11 @@ class TestYouTubeTranscriptApi(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(
             transcript,
-            json.dumps([
+            [
                 {'text': 'Hey, this is just a test', 'start': 0.0, 'duration': 1.54},
                 {'text': 'this is not the original transcript', 'start': 1.54, 'duration': 4.16},
                 {'text': 'just something shorter, I made up for testing', 'start': 5.7, 'duration': 3.239}
-            ])
+            ]
         )
 
     @patch('youtube_transcript_api.YouTubeTranscriptApi.get_transcript')