# ABC News: what's with the tiny text on graphics?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-news-whats-with-the-tiny-text-on-graphics/787286>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 23, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-news-whats-with-the-tiny-text-on-graphics/787286 "2017-05-23T16:19:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-news-whats-with-the-tiny-text-on-graphics/787286/1 "2017-05-23T16:19:25Z")

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If you have a DVR and a rather large TV, watch ABC News tonight, and pause it when they present an all-graphics screen, e.g. with stock market performance or some other kind of data. That information will be in a nice big font, front and center - but if you look closely elsewhere on the screen, there will be a whole bunch of text presented in really small font (I have a 65" TV and have to get within a couple of feet to read it). It’s often semi-gibberish, referencing the Antarctic ice shelf, or climate change, or some other seemingly arbitrary subject matter.

Is there any rhyme or reason to that tiny text? Why is it there at all?

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**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-news-whats-with-the-tiny-text-on-graphics/787286/2 "2017-05-23T16:48:19Z")

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Perhaps so ABC can tell when someone is using their video feed without their permission?