The Max Headroom Signal Intrusion — Unknown Hacker Hijacks Chicago TV Twice on Same Night

On the night of November 22, 1987, an unknown individual or group hijacked the broadcast signals of two major Chicago television stations and broadcast two segments of a person wearing a Max Headroom mask before Chicago area audiences. The intrusion has never been solved and remains the only successful hijacking of a major American TV broadcast using a pirate transmitter. The first intrusion occurred at 9:14 PM during WGN-TV's sports segment. A figure in a Max Headroom mask appeared on screen for about 25 seconds before engineers cut power and restored the broadcast. About two hours later, during an episode of Dr. Who on PBS station WTTW, the signal was hijacked again. This time the figure spoke at length in a distorted voice, making pop culture references, was spanked with a flyswatter by an accomplice off camera, and laughed maniacally. The FCC investigated and the Chicago FBI field office conducted a prolonged investigation. Engineers estimated the intrusion required sophisticated and expensive equipment — a powerful directional transmitter capable of overriding the stations' signals. No suspect was ever identified despite the investigation and a $100,000 fine threatening whoever was responsible. The video circulated for decades as a VHS recording and became a major internet artifact after being posted online. Multiple people have claimed knowledge of the identity of the hijacker over the years, but no credible identification has ever been publicly confirmed. The case remains open in FCC records.