The Max Headroom Pirating Incident

[metalgearsolid19]

If your a readit user you might have come across someone claiming that he knew this guy and was informed on how he did it there is proof in this post on readit that they were friends at all but the way he went into detail on how to do this seemed very convincing

[denver924471]

Normally, if I saw someone do this, I would think my dad did it. But I told him about it, and he said he had never heard of Clutch Cargo, and hasn't ever left Wisconsin. So, I don't have any more leads. Lol

[Popteart]

This person needs to come out and admit it. It's been 25 years almost, I'm sure the statue of limitations is up on this.

[JustinRheaPatterson]

@Popteart So you think there is a statue out there limiting him? I would guess a statute is more likely.

[Popteart]

@JustinRheaPatterson Oh wow, I forgot a letter. Go find something better to do. I think most people on her knew what I was talking about, but you didn't.

[JustinRheaPatterson]

@Popteart I just thought I was correcting someone who didn't have a clue. So defensive.

[only257]

interesting

[KentAllard]

"I wanted to bust the tv set"

I hope he hasn't seen the new doctor who series

[brainboob]

'i got so upset that i wanted to break the tv set'-hahahaha what a dumb, easily effected douche.

[sambda]

The explanation of the Captain Midnight incident is wrong, according to Wikipedia. It was simply done by using a character generator at the uplink facility where the HBO signal was sent to satellite from. The guy who did it (John MacDougall) had a part-time job there. No "triangulation" or anything fancy involved, nor was it done from where he lived, or his satellite-TV store.

[Pseudobadger]

@sambda You are assuming that the information you read on Wikipedia is correct, an "iffy" proposition.  Furthermore, Wikipedia makes no mentions of MacDougall in the Max Headroom incident, but rather references MacDougall in the HBO Captain Midnight incident. You have successfully referenced a questionable source incorrectly. Perhaps, when offering information in the future, you might want to be more careful in order to be considered a more credible source yourself.

[Pseudobadger]

@sambda I have re-read your post, and I see that I am the one who is wrong. I am guilty of the same error of which I accused you. How ironic is that? I apologize good sir or madam.

[GreenWorm1999]

Great film . I love it.

[PretentiousHousefly]

Feels like this documentary treats this incident way too seriously. Also...people were getting mad about this when it happened? What a bunch of uptight assholes.

[totalrandomcrap]

When they raided Osama Bin Laden's hide out they found a Max Headroom mask and a spinning corrugated metal device!

[BlackRaven117]

Well, He interrupts sports, I don't care, BUT NO BODY INTERRUPTS DOCTOR WHO!!!

[Rhym35w1th0range]

Go to Google and put in:

I believe I know who was behind the "Max Headroom Incident" that occurred on Chicago TV in 1987.

[MegaCrazycatt]

@ArneZiffel What I find creepy is they NEVER figured out for sure who did it.

[TheMaxGrody]

This documentary tries too hard for so many reasons. If I had the ability to override a signal and do jackassery, I'd do it for fun. Most young people would. The reason the Captain Midnight was caught was because he was overheard blabbing on a payphone in public. The "triangulation" excuse was made to deter others. FCC had NO decent clue.

This guy videotaped this performance for WGN, tried to interrupt WGN, failed for some reason, pointed elsewhere, got Doctor Who. That's how I see it.

[funkyflashman]

@TheMaxGrody I humbly disagree....I think the WGN transmission was just a test to see if everything was going to work.

[NatashaFatale59]

What's the music at the end?

no offense intended.

[AIphaDog]

Hey did it for teh Lulz

[Xjreme18]

Successful troll is successful.

[lobotehkitteh]

You can totally tell this is moot when he was a kid

[prlad85]

Brilliant documentary.

Very nice job! Keep up the great work! Thanks for posting!

A++++++++

Have a great night, a great day tommorrow, a great night tommorrow, a great week, a great month, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! All the best in 2011 and beyond! Puerto Rican Love from New York City!

[soniczubat]

That guy with the Max Headroom mask is a good troll

[tubolosis]

Anyone else think that could actually be a female?

[vivarufus]

4chan vs. WGN

[ToiletBomberAlpha]

Why is the narrator being so dramatic?

[orchote]

dude that made this probably IS the pirate...

[ChairmanWard]

I saw this Live back in the day and never laughed so hard in my life!

[wordupassholes]

Song is Gospeed You! Black Emperor - Static

Right?

[MissRandomIsRandom]

I lol'd at 7:55, because he's obviously never seen/heard of the Max Headroom TV show.

[sciencebzzt]

worst narrator of all time

[themirrorsofmymind]

I was watching Doctor Who when this thing came on. I told my older brother and sister what happened the next morning and they thought I must have fallen asleep for a few minutes and dreamed the whole thing. (I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE FALLEN INTO A PARALLEL UNIVERSE and dreamed the whole thing.) Then later that day the news reports came on, and my mother, brother and sister were calling from the living room "HEY, MARTIN, IT'S ON THE NEWS!" Too bad he got away with it...

[stingass]

im sure at least one person knows who did it. besides the doer that is.

[computargames101]

@stingass he never got cuaght or idenified

[mouse264]

It was 1987? That means this person could easily still still be alive... And is not telling who they are. Creepy. He could be anyone. I could know him.

[hitmankgm]

@mouse264 IT COULD BE YOU

IT COULD BE ME

IT COULD EVEN BE-

WHAT IT WAS OBVIOUS

HES THE MAX HEADROOM GUY

watch, he'll turn red any second now

sorry if you dont get it, but i had too lol

[mouse264]

@hitmankgm I WAS THINKING OF THAT WHILE TYPING THE COMMENT LOL. <3

[joetri10]

I really whanna meet the guy who did this (the dude playing max) :/

[TheChicagoguy]

thye shouldve done a 20th anniversary gag during the morning broadcast in 2007

[LadeyCaroline]

7:55 all the stuff he says wouldnt really make sense because he wasnt calling himself Max Headroom at all. Thats what other people named him. The mask was probably just the first thing he grabbed to cover up his face.

[njg2q]

@LadeyCaroline Wrong.  He had that moving background too, that was intentional.

[TheLizzard0]

@LadeyCaroline He spurted Max's line "catch the wave" and had the MH backround.

[wisteela]

Very interesting.

[productions963]

I'd say it was someone working for Fox News but they weren't even as big as they have grown bigger since '87.

[Panorama1981]

Wonder if Siskel and Ebert were watching that night.

[chicagomoose]

I remember this incident like it was yesterday. Great job c-magoo. I never knew they never caught the person who did this. I remember seeing the one that happened during the news but missing the one that happen during dr who ( I hated that show) and wishing that i could see it. I guess this will go down as one of the great mysteries of chicago. lol

[gibbers82]

that guy looks just like richard branson

[Woedi]

The narrator doesn't articulate clearly enough. Apart from that, very informative mini docu.

[shazam1059]

where the hell was i when this came out??? shazam1059

[markadair]

I actually love this, well done.

[BigQuizThing]

Very sloppy. The date of the incident is reported wrong (November 22, not November 11), and Chuck Swirsky's name is misspelled.

[snazzybagels]

GY!BE

Nice

[AVONISION]

That's pretty awesome. Hats off to the guy.

[haseo18615]

People are looking WAY too deeply into what Max was doing. It was obviously a prank, not some deep political message!

[Cromulus420]

@haseo18615 I'd be interested in knowing if there was perhaps an employee that recently got fired from the network or something. Someone with knowledge on how to pull something like this off and a reason to do it to that particular network.

[haseo18615]

@thebronzebat He did say that by mentioning Captain Midnight.

[Omnignosis]

It was Voorhilion from the Ashtar Command!

[strongnoob]

only nihilists would say theres no meaning. it wasnt a prank.

[jmm1233]

need to do this to the chinese tv channels , break the censorship , break the firewall

[uofm4204]

Too bad this narrator sounds like a faggot

[AegisNova]

@uofm4204 Why is that bad?

[zeldajunkielol2]

Great Video.

[mikalmos]

Interestingly Doctor Who was first broadcast 11/23/1963 so maybe that wasnt a random choice of show to break into

[PatrioticFront]

11/22/1987

November 22 is the anniversary of the JFK assasination. And, I still think this was in some way related to it.

Criminals like to gloat, and I think thats what this was.

He talks about a masterpiece for news paper nerds - JFK 11/22/1963

talks about CBS - Walter Cronkite; most dont know walter was a member of a satanic cult, the bohemian grove, same camp as Bush Sr, who was als involved. Cronkite famously crying 11/22/63

And, the comment the brother wearing the other = RFK

[peniosasdasd]

Godspeed You, Max Headroom.

[DRAGON6708]

lol ok i hear ya digital wish ya could do it for ya anniversary

[DRAGON6708]

well do it again! dammit ! lol

[thegrimripper322]

The thought that this guy is still out there gives me nightmares.

[zeldajunkielol2]

To me it's quite exciting.

[UK31337]

The date is wrong.  It was Sunday November 22nd, not Saturday the 11th.

[melosebrainuhoh]

"Theories on why he did it"? Come on, he obviously was just having some fun. Political statement... ugh.

[bobsullivan14]

he was actually mocking coca cola. max headroom was featured in coca cola ads saying " catch the wave ".

[freisingerii]

actually captain midnight got caught by a tip from someone that overheard the guy bragging about it.

[WhatsAYak]

@bloggerrick - I thought he was saying "I still see the X", given it came right in the middle of his humming the Clutch Cargo theme, and that was a line from the last ep of CC.

[IHasHat]

The narrators voice is SO annoying. Has he not heard of annunciation? It might be bearable if he atleast learned to read correctly.

[ignition918]

Seriously, I almost didn't watch the whole thing.

[DictatorRoB]

@ignition918 Why?

[LoneStarPatriot]

the narrator sounds like he is limp-wristed.

[gamesDAMNED]

Yeah. That totally makes sense.  Because he was talking out of his wrists.

[themirrorsofmymind]

@IHasHat Yeah, I don't want to be mean, but is this a 12 year old that we're listening to?

[SuperWeaves]

@IHasHat Most kids cant read today

[InstinctualJealousy]

@IHasHat I can understand why you'd say that, being you're from a different country with different regional accents... I'd like to think I enunciate better than he does. I think he's "talking too fast". All I know is I hear some Brits and Aussies say "li-le" for "little", completely dropping the T's and replacing it with a silent pause- and that's horrible enunciation. Of course, we have issues of our own. If I talk fast I end up going "whaddaya want" for "what do you want".

[skeletal13]

@IHasHat If you read the description, this documentary was a high school project.

[Concorde1059]

@IHasHat *enunciation

[LukeL007]

As the statute of limitations has long since expired, the perp should come forward and tell his story.

[LuTELLO]

"I got so upset, that I wanted to bust the tv set. I really did." I wish you did. You shouldn't have a tv if you're so easily offended.

[Ptambio]

did a good job making this a 10 min doc

[Ph00p]

Its a shame they haven't repeated this, it would make tv a helluva lot more interesting. Good job on the mini doc too bad there isn't more info out there about this, but you did a good job stretching it out to a full 10 mins.

[Zjheol]

@Ph00p that's the thing, it's not that it's hard to override a transmission (well in the days of analog) it's near impossible to get away with because of how fast the signal can be triangulated. People still do this with radio waves all the time.... I think what happened was the pirate played a pre-recorded video and simply broadcasted it. It would take very expensive equipment and several individuals to pull it off. Even if they were driving around in a giant van.....

[ConfusedAndAwesome]

@Zjheol You have a point, but why would they pre-record the message?

[TexUnderDog79]

It was me

[SepticProductions]

@TexUnderDog79 to bad it couldntv been cause it was me!!!

[BritishSexComedy]

I remember this being reported on our news over in the UK when I was 9 or 10. I live less than a mile away from one of the talkest, most powerful tv transmitters in Europe.. Oh, to be able to override ITVs broadcast of the XFactor final!!!!!

[ageshero]

I think the guy has a sense of humor.

people go to a huge length to laugh themselves. lol

[thx291]

But now we're digital.

[LisergicoRojo]

nice doc, good job man! keep up the good work!

[LisergicoRojo]

its very funny how a plastic ass being spanked can "upset" viewers LOL

[LastRowKid]

this guy is one of (if not the original) Anonymous.

[Yakovlievich]

I don't think that many people were watching Doctor Who to provoke widespread outrage.

But it's still hilarious!

[himvalo666]

Worlds greatest newspaper? Please. Use facts in your documentary, not your opinion

[svvejk]

"World's greatest newspaper" is a proper name, and is referred to by the acronym WGN, the name of the first broadcast station targeted.

[AmentiProductions]

lol major fail himvalo666 maybe u should learn call signs before u open ur mouth

[spershall]

Ack, narration is REALLY hard to understand! Where is Peter Thomas when you need him?

[Carthsting]

In digital and analog audio, headroom is the amount by which the signal capabilities of an audio system exceed a designated level, known as Permitted Maximum Level (PML). Headroom can be thought of as a safety zone allowing transient audio peaks to exceed the PML without exceeding the signal capabilities of an audio system (digital clipping, for example). Various standards bodies recommend various levels as Permitted Maximum Level.

[Hiei2k7]

It adds to why Chicago is awesome.

[BlueOceanBelow]

Thanks for doing this. Great job!

[eexot]

You did an excellent job on this. I wish you would make an extended version, maybe 30 minutes or an hour so I could really kick back and watch this.

[fsputnikv]

narrator sucks MODULATE!!

[kingazzaman]

1.) Awesome prank.

epic lulz oldskizzle

[toucansam3]

The narrator needs to speak slower.

[gshowguy]

I thought the video signals were hijacked on November 22nd of that year, not November 11th. Otherwise, great video! :-)

[toucansam3]

You're right, the narrators date is wrong, it was Nov 22.

[eexot]

I love this, I really wish it was longer.

[websuspect]

Hackers trade secrets, dumpster diving, Engineering curiosities and Social engineering. All secret tools of the hacker. People who are curious with enormous intelligence, benevolent and interested in constructive change in society from the bottom up. Hackers dont give a shit about global warming.

[bromide01]

Max Headroom = "maximum headroom" of the parking garage before Matt Frewer crashed his motorcycle. Not videography term. Blah.

[goji2099]

It still refers to the term 'Headroom" in that fashion, as the character is only a bust. It's a pun.

[oldhatrs25]

My theory is he was an ex-employee of WGN because the tape he made beforehand makes fun of WGN specifically, even when hijacked WTTN. Also, the "they're coming to get me" bit at the end seems to be mocking the FCC.

[superiorest]

This was interesting, but the narrator really ruined it very unsure and just simply reading everything off a sheet of paper like a robot.

[Animelovahr]

I wonder if this guy is still alive :]

[Shogun57]

rumour has it that he isint.

[ebeneh]

Jeez who put this guy to speak for the documental??

pls try open your mouth when you talk dude!!

[Jason1920]

You're an asshole with a great big mouth!

SHUT THE FUCK UP!

[genericvideo1]

Hey Jason why don't you say that to my face so I can give you a prostate massage by letting my girlfriend do you in the butt with a strapon.

[crygus]

The narrator read a little too fast at certain points during the video. Otherwise not bad at all. It is forever an interesting bit of trivia.

[Edgehead1132]

there actually has been a signal hijacking since then, not since this video, but during the super bowl someone in the arizona area played a porno over the air for a few minutes, but it was someone working in the studio, so it doesn't really count

[misslv80]

Hmmm...interesting. So only people in the AZ area saw it, I gather?

[Edgehead1132]

Tuscon and surrounding areas, yes

[Antheology12]

Yeah I was watching it in Arizona when it happened we thought it was happening to everyone now that would be something!

[vikingkeith]

I just got annoyed because I was watching Dr. Who that night. When you think about it the hacking paralleled the Max Headroom show as that digital character could hijack the TV signals in the show; very amusing. The hijacker was probably just having fun and did it because he could.

[AdorableRuffian]

Sounds like the WGN sportscast was his real target (judging by what he did and said), but he didn't get the whole message through before they cut him off.

So he must have just scrambled around for any alternative means by which to get his message out on the air (hence the 2 hour gap before the later intrusion).

Ironically if he hadn't interrupted a Dr Who broadcast (which thousands of Who nerds would have been taping on their VCRs), his broadcast might not survive or be remembered today.

[AdorableRuffian]

And yes, it's plainly a recording being played off of a tape, he wasn't doing this as a live piece to camera or anything. He would have recorded it in advance with the intention of hijacking WGN.

[TwinsnMountainMovers]

I don't think so actually, because at the beginning of the broadcast he comments on the show that is being played, calling the nerdy guy a nerd. I think that he had part of it pre-recorded (the ass slapping part) but I think the rest was live. He says at one point "I can still see the X" and points at his camera, meaning he is still on the air. This makes me believe that he did it live, except the ass slap.

[tytygood]

He said "I stole CBS". Not "I can still see the X."

[BeyondLame]

wonder if he'll strike again

[colonelcrow]

Great little production! Well done.

[Zjheol]

the recorded-feed theory makes the most sense. Yes, he hijacked two signals in one night. However, if you noticed, the first hijack occurred during the sportscast, which had no sound, but it was the exact same video later on during the broadcast of Dr. Who. A recording which was broadcasted over live television and local television. Technically he over rode the transmissions with a pre-recorded tape.

[jbbentley83]

It's like pre Rick roll but more epic.

[emir0721]

This was the same year "Never Gonna Give You Up" was released - 1987 (January). This hijack was on November. So, I'd consider them as parallels.

[tomrobotservo3000]

@jbbentley83 Please they did that on the Thanksgiving parade

[kevinkthedj]

this is great

thank you

[mkultra2300]

I wonder if the switch to digital television will increase the possibility of future TV piracy incidents.

[sonicmann101]

what! thats rediculous

[rays130226]

20 years later, Tucson AZ witnessed it by watching the Super Bowl XLIII with a 30 second porno clip.

[dukeofhazzard27]

i think it sounds like a x- emplyee !!!!but well done i say ...lmao...classic

[CarnalSalvation]

I'm totally stoked someone made a documentary regarding this incident.

I have been intrigued by it for many years.

[cyclopz007]

nice vid. headroom rules

[sonikkuffffff]

Cool. Some Godspeed You! Black Emperor in this film. That's probably the best thing about it. You sound completely bored.

[TheRealShadowspawn]

You can't stop the signal, Mal.

[ArxVirtus]

The "narrator" sounds like a 17-year old kid reading a high-school book report.

[nexusone415]

who cares man. he did a cool job and this was pretty interesting.

[RickyZ101]

It makes you wish you was that guy behind the Max Headroom costume to know the "real" answer...

[oldpat420]

He said it was on November 11th, but it was actually November 22nd.

[fascistbullyboy]

The Fact that a documentary was made about this is simply amazing.... and I am huge Dr. Who fan however do not live in Chicago and I was only 7 when it happened....THIS CASE IS STILL UNSOLVED... REMEMBER THIS PEOPLE!!!

[casandrakumsung]

Inside job. He had a grudge on the studio.

He new people in the studio. He knew what frequency's to transmit the microwave.

[LockeCarnelia]

I want to shake the man's hand who pulled this job off. I also wouldn't mind doing something like it! Come on, who wouldn't find it funny for a news broadcaster to say, "Senator Hawkins today discussed the need for the US Economy to" and then suddenly, "CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PYLONS" from Starcraft to pop up?

[no1pjfan]

The narrator sounds like the "Boom Goes the Dynamite" guy.

[no1pjfan]

Good for you. Buy him an Old Style for me.

[neverwasapunk16]

He wanted to bust the t.v set because he got pwned

[BettieBlueballs]

I know. I wish he would have. Bust your T.V. over something you have no control over. Fucking idiot.