# Why all the Pixillating? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063 "2008-11-10T17:40:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/1 "2008-11-10T17:40:02Z")
I notice this all the time on TV shows - someone’s hat or shirt will be pixillated, presumably to blur out something that could be considered an advertisement (for example, a beer company’s logo on someone’s shirt). But why? What does it matter to, say, the Discovery Channel, if one of the workers assisting Mike Rowe with a Dirty Job has a Budweiser logo on his shirt? I see advertising logos on people clothes all the time when I’m out in public - so why do people with logos on their clothes get their logos blurred out when they’re on TV? ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/2 "2008-11-10T18:05:08Z")
I suspect it is now easier to pixilate than work out what does or does not need to be. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/3 "2008-11-10T18:09:59Z")
I’ve asked before, and I haven’t really seen a good answer. If you watch a “funniest home video” type show, how come they frequently pixellate the time/date on the camcorder? Why would that matter to anyonein any way? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/4 "2008-11-10T18:15:02Z")
Probably to keep out of potential trouble from competitors buying airtime. If Coors is paying for commercials during show breaks, they don’t want a Budweiser logo in everyone’s face for a half hour during the show itself. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/5 "2008-11-10T18:15:18Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > I’ve asked before, and I haven’t really seen a good answer. > > If you watch a “funniest home video” type show, how come they frequently pixellate the time/date on the camcorder? Why would that matter to anyonein any way? > > -Joe I remember this being explained because having visible dates could potentially “date” the program, which is bad for syndication. It also allows them to use ridiculously-old videos from the 80s and pass it off as “new” content. Who knows, maybe it’s also part of obscuring video details to protect the submitter’s privacy. I suspect part of the blurring of logos has to do with not wanting to give any company free advertising; after all, that might end up pissing off the actual advertisers who pay good money to have their ads shown in the commercial breaks (versus the free advertising that would arise DURING the actual show). Furthermore, if the products are being shown adjacent to a dangerous/illegal activity, the owners of the trademarks might be a little pissed and could probably threaten legal action since their trademark is being used in a derogatory manner (according to them at least). ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/6 "2008-11-10T18:16:48Z")
TV networks sell advertising. They don’t want to give it away for free. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/7 "2008-11-10T18:18:14Z")
For logos on shirts, you don’t want to see a guy doing something stupid with a shirt bearing the logo of your advertiser. If you want Budweiser to advertise with you they may also object to a main character wearing a Miller t-shirt. Since you may syndicate down the road you have no idea who your advertiser is going to be. Date and time stamps (and car license plates) are probably an attempt to avoid releasing personally identifiable information. You might be able to cross-correlate to some other event (or police report) and figure out who the person was. It’s a little less clear why they do this one, but it’s probably very easy to do with modern video editing software. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/8 "2008-11-10T18:46:55Z")
The pixillators has some very effective lobbyists. There’s talk of getting a constitutional amendment on the ballots. Prop 8 was just the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/9 "2008-11-10T18:47:19Z")
Let’s say you are station XYZ. You have 250 customers that routinely by advertising/commercial time. Let’s say just 25 of those companies represent 85% of the business. Imagine they are Toyota, Coke, Coors and some other big players. If I am an exec at Coors, and my annual ad budget with XYZ station is one billion dollars, you;d better believe that one of the contractual obligations you have to me is that you do not show any competitors products in any show/program/etc. You don’t piss off someone is spending a billion with you. Now, if you are an immensely popular TV show like Seinfeld that had customers dying to get ad time, then you can mention products all you like, because you are in the power position. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/10 "2008-11-10T19:42:44Z")
I’ve also noticed on shows like “Cops” they will pixillate license plates, the faces of bystanders, etc. I assume that is some sort of privacy issue? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/11 "2008-11-10T20:30:08Z")
A similar thing used to happen years ago on radio news. Back then, WCCO radio had a huge percentage of the listeners. The morning news was sponsored on a long-term contract by Northwest Orient Airlines. Except that the airline insisted that their commercials not be used any day there was a story about an airplane crash in the newscast; the station had to try to sell the commercial to someone else, or replace it with non-paid promo or public service announcements. The airline just didn’t want their name mentioned in the same broadcast as news of an airplane crash. (And, cynically, I wonder if this isn’t a way to encourage the radio station to keep coverage of airplane crashes to a minimum.) ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/12 "2008-11-10T21:12:11Z")
I’ve often wondered why they don’t pixellate the faces of the guys in To Catch A Predator. When the show is aired many of these people are still awaiting trial and thus presumably have the presumption of innocence, no matter how airtight the case against them may seem. Couldn’t they take legal action to prevent them being shown and identified before they’re convicted of any offence. And if they’re not convicted (no charges were brought against a whole bunch of them recently after a suspect shot himself while the police and TV crew were outside his house), wouldn’t they have grounds to sue? BTW I’m not defending these people, I’m interested in the legal aspects. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/13 "2008-11-10T21:17:42Z")
I’m a sucker for Style network’s _Clean House_. There’s a garage sale every episode, and I noticed that they pixilated both an R2-D2 and a Mickey Mouse. It’s got to be some sort of copyright/trademark infringement worry. I mean, it’s not like they were shown in negative context. I blame the lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/14 "2008-11-10T21:46:37Z")
IIRC from my programming course, some locally-owned stations have a policy of not showing any alcohol-related logos because they don’t wish to be perceived as condoning the use of those products. They may blur those out themselves, or the production company does it; I’m not sure which. **phouka** , Disney and Lucas are both ferocious about protecting their intellectual property. I don’t know the specific reason why _Clean House_ would blur those out, but I’m sure they got a call from some lawyers. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/15 "2008-11-10T22:07:01Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Date and time stamps (and car license plates) are probably an attempt to avoid releasing personally identifiable information… You’re in the ballpark on car license plates. A lot of people who soup up their cars (and motorcycles) and take them to the track will tape over their plates in case anybody takes pictures showing the vehicle in an activity that could void its warranty (nitrous, certain exhaust mods, etc.). Also, people who are looking for a specific vehicle to steal may be able to track down an address more easily if they see a . Although, I forget the logic behind this one, since if they have access to that data base, they would presumably have access to be able to search plate numbers by vehicle make and model, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/16 "2008-11-10T22:10:17Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > …I’m sure they got a call from some lawyers. …or were not at all curious as to what a call from those companies would be like. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/17 "2008-11-10T22:19:21Z")
> [@LionelHutz405](#): > > TV networks sell advertising. They don’t want to give it away for free. Right, more specifically, they now sell a lot of advertising via product placement. I think they hope to reduce the opportunities for corporations to receive “accidental product-placement” to help drive the market for actual product placement. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/18 "2008-11-10T22:24:30Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > …or were not at all curious as to what a call from those companies would be like. That too. Robin ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/19 "2008-11-10T23:19:15Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > I’m a sucker for Style network’s _Clean House_. There’s a garage sale every episode, and I noticed that they pixilated both an R2-D2 and a Mickey Mouse. The best part is that you know exactly what they pixellated out. So, it’s not only unnecessary, it’s ineffective. ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063/20 "2008-11-11T10:04:04Z")
Not to nag, but just so we are all clear: Pixilated - somewhat unbalanced mentally; whimsical Pixellated - any of the small discrete elements that together constitute an image (as on a television or computer screen) ; any of the detecting elements of a charge-coupled device used as an optical sensor I only bring this up because, well, I hate being confused with pixels. =) love, Pixilated \*see, I thought this thread was all about me! Me, me, me! =P [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-pixillating/472063.md?page=2)