30 Years Ago Today, The Max Headroom Incident

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

Yeah, the nudity rule is proboards not us so the link is a no go. Search for it on Youtube if you want to see the original video it's not really hard to find. -platypus

The Max Headroom broadcast signal intrusion was a television signal hijacking that occurred in Chicago, Illinois, United States, on the evening of November 22, 1987, by an unknown man (or group of unknown individuals). It is an example of what is known in the television business as broadcast signal intrusion. The intruder was successful in interrupting two broadcast television stations within the course of three hours. After a brief and only partially successful attempt to break into the signal of intended target of WGN-TV, the signal pirates succeeded in getting their broadcast intruded onto WTTW during an episode of the Doctor Who serial Horror of Fang Rock. The pirate broadcast, which lasted 90 seconds and was pre-recorded on videotape, featured an individual disguised as television character Max Headroom parodying WGN and television in general. The incident made national headlines[1] and the people responsible have never been identified.

A more detailed review of it from a great youtube account The Oddity Archive

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

Always been fascinated by this story

[Allie Kitsune]

And what was his beef with Chuck Swirski?

[Sephiroth]

Even before social media there were people who thought a ting like a jackass in front of the world made them cool

[mizerable]

Nov 22, 2017 12:06:17 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

And what was his beef with Chuck Swirski?

He's a freakin' liberaaaaaaaw...

I actually own the same mask.

[Eunös ✈]

I remember someone had this as their Avatar on here once.

[Display Name]

I’ve seen it so many times and it still manages to weird me the f*** out.

[Jiren]

Cool story thats fascinated me for yeats but i hate that they cut into a good episode of Doctor Who (shame the DVD didn't have this as an extra).

If this ever happened during an episode of Nu Who id buy em a pint.

[Allie Kitsune]

Nov 22, 2017 12:58:48 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Even before social media there were people who thought a ting like a jackass in front of the world made them cool

Back then, though, it took a lot more skill and know-how (and ability to acquire equipment) to hijack a broadcast signal, I'd assume.

[Deleted]

This is one of my favorite pieces of Americana. I still maintain that during the summer of Punk, Punk should have cut into a Raw broadcast doing the same schtick but wearing a Vince McMahon mask.

It’s kind of amazing that no one has ever come forward to take credit for it.

[thirteen3]

Nov 22, 2017 13:52:19 GMT -5 @akeemresurrection said:

This is one of my favorite pieces of Americana. I still maintain that during the summer of Punk, Punk should have cut into a Raw broadcast doing the same schtick but wearing a Vince McMahon mask.

It’s kind of amazing that no one has ever come forward to take credit for it.

I imagine hacking a TV signal is a serious federal offense that might have a lengthy statute of limitations. (or none at all for that matter.) Could possibly lead to some serious jail time.

[Sephiroth]

Nov 22, 2017 13:45:48 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

Nov 22, 2017 12:58:48 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Even before social media there were people who thought a ting like a jackass in front of the world made them cool

Back then, though, it took a lot more skill and know-how (and ability to acquire equipment) to hijack a broadcast signal, I'd assume.

Not as hard as you’d think. The equipment needed wasn’t all that hard to acquire. It was having the specific know how that was more rare in hobbyist circles.

[Joe Neglia]

I seem to recall there was a discussion somewhere - reddit maybe - a few years ago where someone managed to possibly ID the culprits (two brothers and some of their friends helping out); presented all sorts of evidence for it. Anyone recall that?

[James Fabiano]

Nov 22, 2017 13:09:33 GMT -5 mizerable said:

Nov 22, 2017 12:06:17 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

And what was his beef with Chuck Swirski?

He's a freakin' liberaaaaaaaw...

I actually own the same mask.

He didn't see the X.

[2coldMack is even more baffled]

Nov 22, 2017 14:12:09 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

I seem to recall there was a discussion somewhere - reddit maybe - a few years ago where someone managed to possibly ID the culprits (two brothers and some of their friends helping out); presented all sorts of evidence for it. Anyone recall that?

I definitely remember reading this, but couldn't find it again if you put a gun to my head. But yeah, it was a guy talking about two brothers he knew from a Chicago suburb(I wanna say Elgin, IL?), but the details are really slippery in my head.

[mizerable]

Nov 22, 2017 13:52:19 GMT -5 @akeemresurrection said:

This is one of my favorite pieces of Americana. I still maintain that during the summer of Punk, Punk should have cut into a Raw broadcast doing the same schtick but wearing a Vince McMahon mask.

That would've been amazing.

And I'm not even a huge Punk fan.

[Ultimo Gallos]

Nov 22, 2017 14:12:09 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

I seem to recall there was a discussion somewhere - reddit maybe - a few years ago where someone managed to possibly ID the culprits (two brothers and some of their friends helping out); presented all sorts of evidence for it. Anyone recall that?

I read a similar article. Supposedly it was 2 brothers who ran a Chicago based BBS. They were inspired by a similar incident in Florida.

When I was in 9th grade a local DJ barricaded himself in the booth and played Do you wanna Dance over and over for 4 hours.

[arrogantmodel]

I wonder if the real people will ever come forward like Mark Felt did. Suckas gots ta know.

[Juice]

Nov 22, 2017 14:12:09 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

I seem to recall there was a discussion somewhere - reddit maybe - a few years ago where someone managed to possibly ID the culprits (two brothers and some of their friends helping out); presented all sorts of evidence for it. Anyone recall that?

I feel like,that was a thread on these,forums and one of the brothers had autism.

Ive never used reddit or basically any other forum so I think that was a fan discussion because I remember as well.


officialfan.proboards.com/thread/539066/max-headroom-incident

It was but wasnt we literally all said the same stuff here

[A Platypus Rave]

Nov 22, 2017 13:45:48 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

Nov 22, 2017 12:58:48 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Even before social media there were people who thought a ting like a jackass in front of the world made them cool

Back then, though, it took a lot more skill and know-how (and ability to acquire equipment) to hijack a broadcast signal, I'd assume.

From what I remember hearing on the case and others like it, it was relatively easy to do.