Daily Time Capsule

Chicago TV Stations Hijacked by Max Headroom Pirate - November 22, 1987

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Pete

Pete

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On this day, November 22, 1987, two Chicago TV stations were hijacked by a mysterious individual dressed as Max Headroom, a popular 1980s TV character. The bizarre incident began during a sportscast on WGN-TV and then occurred again during a broadcast of Doctor Who on WTTW.

The hacker, wearing a rubber Max Headroom mask, interrupted broadcasts with distorted audio, cryptic messages, and erratic behavior. Despite an extensive FCC investigation, the identity of the pirate and their motive remain unknown, making it one of the most infamous unsolved media hacks in history.

Do you remember hearing about this incident? Why do you think the Max Headroom pirate did it?
 
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