Prime Big Deal Days aheadAmazon USPlan the Next Screen RefreshReview the current streaming lineup before the October shopping window arrives.Compare NowClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanStreaming troubleAmazon USFind a Cleaner Route to PlayCompare replacement options when an older device buffers, drops connection, or complicates app switching.Check Deals×
Skip to content
Activism

30 Years later, this Creepy TV Add is still a Mystery

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

When you look back at the day, it was like any other Sunday night at Chicago’s WGN-TV. But then, the unthinkable and the unpredictable happened.

Right up until 9:14 PM on November 22, 1987, what appeared on Chicago’s television sets was normal: entertainment, news, and game shows. Dan Roan, the popular local sportscaster was narrating highlights of the Bears victory.

And on that Sunday night in 1987, Max Headroom became a conspiracy theory folder, one that is not solved 30 years later. A person wearing a mask of the iconic 80s character interrupted broadcasts in Chicago. It was the creepiest interruption in the history of television. The masked creep gargled on-air, and then disappeared. The FBI investigated the incident, but the case remains an unsolved mystery.

The First Interruption

The Max Headroom broadcast signal intrusion was a television signal hijacking occurring Chicago, Illinois. It happened on the evening of November 22. The first one came at 9:14 pm, and lasted for 25 seconds during the sportscast on 9 O’Clock news on WGN-TV Channel 9.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The first incident did not feature any sound. It was just a masked man with the face of Max Headroom appearing on screen and doing nothing aside from moving his head around the screen.

The incident made national headlines. The people responsible for the incident have never been identified. In the control room of WGN-TV, technicians on duty stared blankly at their screens while the incident was happening. The TV network broadcasted its signal from a 100-story John Hancock tower some seven miles away. But the signal got hijacked, and the rest is history.

Rank #2
ELECTCOM PRO Region-Free DVD Player for TV with HDMI
  • Region Free DVD Player for TV - If you collect classic movies or own international DVDs, this region free DVD player for TV is built for you. Many standard DVD players reject imported discs with frustrating region errors, making treasured collections unusable. Whether revisiting classic films in your home theater setup or replaying rare international releases on your smart TV, this region free DVD player ensures your older collections stay watchable.
  • Multi Region Compatibility - This region free DVD player supports regions (0-6) and automatically reads PAL/NTSC formats, allowing you to play international DVDs instantly with no manual switching. Just connect via HDMI or RCA, select the corresponding input on your TV, and press play—bringing your entire global collection back to life in seconds.
  • Universal & Multi-Format Support - Effortlessly handles a wide range of disc formats including DVD, DVD±R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, and SVCD, plus MP3, WMA, and JPEG files. Perfect for older DVD collections and imported discs. Connect easily to Smart TVs, HDTVs via HDMI for high-quality audio and video, or use RCA AV output for older TVs. No compatibility worries. Just insert your disc and play. Note: Not compatible with Blu-ray discs.
  • Compact Small DVD Player - Designed as a small DVD/CD player for home, RV, and camper entertainment, its compact size fits easily on shelves and in media cabinets. Fits seamlessly into any living room, bedroom, or media center, giving you a simple, stable way to enjoy DVDs without relying on internet streaming.
  • Easy Setup & Operation - Designed for effortless plug-and-play use, tthis DVD player requires no technical setup (Simply switch your TV to the correct HDMI/AV source). It supports DVD, CD, VCD, and SVCD formats, and plays international DVDs from regions (0–6), ensuring your older DVD collections remain fully usable. Connect easily to Smart TVs or older TVs via HDMI or RCA. Includes a remote control for simple and convenient operation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

The Mask Returns

Once the storm has passed, and everything continued as normal, another hijack happened. Later that night on November 22, at around 11:15, or two hours after the first incident, the mask returned. This time, it was during a broadcast of the Doctor Who serial at the PBS member station WTTW. The signal was hijacked by the same person, at least that is what people thought at the time.

During the second interruption, the masked man came with distorted and crackling audio. The man on the screen kept saying “That does it. He’s a fricking nerd!” The masked man continued to laugh, moan, and scream for several seconds. He even utter some various random phrases, including Coke’s advertising slogan, “Catch the Wave” while holding a Pepsi can. The irony is that Max Headroom was a Coca-Cola’s spokesperson at the time.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3

WTTW found that its engineers were unable to stop the hijacker due to the fact that there were no engineers on duty at the Sears Tower. Technicians from the WTTW headquarters attempted to take corrective measures, but they couldn’t. Thanks to Doctor Who fans who were taping the show, the network was able to find copies of the hijacker’s telecast.

Legacy

Within hours of the incident, federal officials were called in to investigate the crime. It remains one of the strangest crimes in TV history, a rare broadcast signal intrusion with no clear motive, method, or culprits.

What followed in years after of the incident was a number of copycats and parodies. People tried to mimic the delivery. Some companies even intentionally made commercials with Max Headroom just so that they try to milk the cow and its popularity.

It became a new form of pranksterism, protest, or even some classified it as terrorism. It emerged a year and a half earlier, when HBO aired The Falcon and the Snowman. Thirty two minutes past midnight, the screen flickered into color bars with a message appearing on the top. That was the Captain Midnight incident.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
DVD Players for TV with HDMI,All Region Free DVD Player for Smart TV
  • Immersive Audiovisual Experience: Enjoy stunning clarity with 1080P HD DVD player, it brings vibrant colors and clear details to your screen, satisfying all your home entertainment needs. The enhanced brightness and contrast of this home DVD player deliver cinema-quality visuals, while the included HDMI and RCA cables ensure easy connection to any TV, projector, or home theater system.
  • Durable and reliable design: This TV-specific DVD player DVD player for TV features a durable plastic and features excellent shock resistance, ensuring long-term, stable operation. Equipped with a precision laser tray, this HDMI DVD player plays discs from all regions smoothly (does not support Blu-ray discs). Note: Do not repeatedly press the eject button
  • Universal Disc and USB Input: This region-free DVD player is designed with a focus on playback quality and universal compatibility with a wide range of disc and file formats. In addition to supporting DVD formats [DVD, DVD-R/+R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, SVCD], this all-region DVD player can also play music, and photos from USB hard drives or flash drives, supporting file formats such as MP3, JPEG, WMA, to meet all your entertainment needs. Supports only the FAT or FAT32 file systems. The copy function supports copying CDs to USB. The maximum supported USB capacity is 32 GB
  • Easy-to-Use Remote Control: The HDMI DVD player can be easily operated with a remote control with a range of up to 10 meters. It integrates a variety of functions, including memory playback, copying CD/MP3 format files to USB, A-B loop playback, slow playback, hiding/displaying subtitles, and adjusting the screen angle. The DVD player with remote control is very easy to operate and is ideal for elderly people
  • Warranty & Package: Package included 1 x 1080P HD DVD Player,1 x Remote Control (Battery not included),1 x 5.05ft HDMI Cable,1 x 3.34ft RCA Cable,1 x User Manual

Over the years, there have been many investigations trying to find out exactly what happened. But the mystery remains unsolved. And Max remains the TV hero of the 80s and the early days of pranking on TV.

Quick Recap

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.