During Prison Break, What are those red dots?

[alohatim]

During Prison break, I noticed two red dots appeared at the bottom of the screen. After a few seconds, they faded away. The same thing happened during K-Ville.

Is it some sort of subliminal preview message for another show?

Is it some sort of timing marker?

I only saw it on those two shows.

[1stwahine]

It's to give a signal to the Prisoners "Light's out?!":confused:

Nah, nah...juss joking!:p

Auntie Lynn

[Vanguard]

I didn't even notice them, and I haven't missed a single episode of Prison Break. Do you remember when exactly during the show they were shown?

My guess is, they add these things so if people tape the show off the airwaves and pass it off on bootlegs (PB is a very popular show to bootleg in China, for one), it'll be "marked".

[pzarquon]

My first thought was it was watermarking like that, as you see in movies. But those are much quicker flashes... slow enough to notice, but not the lingering sort of thing it sounds like this is.

The question has come up on another message board (http://www.tv.com/prison-break/show/31635/red-dots-on-screen-during-premiere/topic/14245-852350/msgs.html?page=1), with lots of theories.

[alohatim]

Ahh, yes, so it is some sort of teaser promo. It comes on at about the same time you would expect to see those annoying graphics promoting other shows during the show you are watching.