EBS Test 1981

Using the audio from a 1981 EBS Test and a PowerPoint slide, I created an Emergency Broadcast System test with scary-looking text. I wanted the text to look as scary as it did when I was a kid.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• EBS
• ebs
• emergency
• broadcast
• broadcasting
• system
• washington
• dc
• d.c.
• 1981

[SallyAcorn09]

That's neat. I hated the EBS as a kid. My local ABC affiliate (WCHS-TV 8) had one that was really freaky!!!

[6891man]

You ought to post a video of it here on YouTube if you can. :)

[iheartaviation]

I was 8 years old and was watching TV with my Grandma who just had surgery and was a little confused. When an EBS test came on, she grew scared and told me there was a war. Ha ha, it's a funny memory the two of us still ponder. :)

[zerooneonefive]

@Ellisthemechanic I mean the EAS can easily catch you off guard, it was scarier when they first started testing the EAS back in the late 90s because it was literally just a blank green or red screen that said eas in digitalized letters that looked broken up and did the tone, today they don't do it as alarming at least picture wise cause it's just a black screen that says Emergency Alert System and gives the message

[Ellisthemechanic]

@zerooneonefive I find the EAS more scary because of that ERRRRRRRRRRRR! ERRRRRRRRRRRRR! ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP! BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE­EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE­EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE­EEEEEEEEP Sound effect.

[zerooneonefive]

@Ellisthemechanic Nah I honestly find the EAS a bit relaxing, this was more alerting imo and scarier

[moonable1]

Man I hate ALL the sounds, especially the slow beeping sound that goes EEEEEEEEEEERRR.......EEEEEEEEE­RRRRR......EERRRR.......

[Ellisthemechanic]

Less scary than the EAS.

[dandmonline]

OMG! I'm gonna use this youtube audio as a spoof on my radio station!

[YouthfulElf]

Even though it was just a test, there was always something about that interruption that made me stop what I was doing and listen.

Another thing I'll never forget was how they used it on the movie "Independence Day"

[nickd929]

Thanks man,every time the ebs comes on late at night,my girls shih tzu freaks out...so now I just play this video to mess with her

[MrWolftickets]

@SallyAcorn09

I was always freaked out by them too as a kid, that tone certainly says "something's wrong!".

[unclefestus]

Ya know, they used to show these tests so much that if a REAL emergency came up, everyone would probably still think it's only a test.