What was the Max Headroom TV hijacking?
On November 22, 1987, someone wearing a Max Headroom mask hijacked two Chicago TV broadcasts — crashing the 9 o'clock news sports segment and later Doctor Who…
On November 22, 1987, someone wearing a Max Headroom mask hijacked two Chicago TV broadcasts — crashing the 9 o'clock news sports segment and later Doctor Who — for about 90 seconds of bizarre rambling. The culprit was never caught. Every story in this section is documented and real: truth really is stranger than fiction.
Why two stations could not stop it
The 1987 hijack worked because broadcast TV was a one-way street. Stations sent a powerful signal out; anyone with a stronger signal on the same frequency near the transmitter link could overpower it — and there was no login, no encryption, no authentication of any kind. The intruder hijacked the studio-to-transmitter feed, which is why engineers in the studio could see it happening and still do almost nothing to stop it for long stretches.
What to do, step by step
- Think of it as a radio shouting match: the receiver simply locks onto the loudest signal on the channel.
- Note the targets were chosen for reach — a 9 p.m. newscast and a late-night Doctor Who episode guaranteed maximum audience.
- Compare it to today: digital feeds are encrypted and authenticated, which is why a repeat on modern TV infrastructure is nearly impossible.
Ask AI about this tip
Send this tip to your favorite AI assistant for a plain-language walkthrough, follow-up questions, or help applying it to your device.