1987 Max Headroom TV Hijacking Remains Unsolved 38 Years Later

Chicago, Illinois – On November 22, 1987, two Chicago television stations experienced unprecedented broadcast signal intrusions by an unidentified individual wearing a Max Headroom mask. The mysterious hacker interrupted programming on WGN-TV and WTTW, delivering bizarre, distorted messages and visuals in an event that has remained unsolved for 38 years. The tweet from Col Alois Hammer on November 22, 2025, serves as a reminder of this enduring media mystery.

The first incident occurred at approximately 9:14 p.m. during WGN-TV's "The Nine O'Clock News" sports segment. Viewers saw their screens go black for about 15 seconds before an individual in a Max Headroom mask appeared, swaying erratically against a corrugated metal panel, accompanied by a loud buzz. This initial intrusion lasted roughly 30 seconds before WGN engineers regained control by changing the frequency of their broadcast signal.

A second, more sustained intrusion took place around 11:15 p.m. on PBS affiliate WTTW during an episode of "Doctor Who." This time, the masked figure was audible through distorted audio, making various disjointed comments, referencing New Coke, the animated series "Clutch Cargo," and WGN sportscaster Chuck Swirsky. The segment concluded with the figure's bare buttocks being lightly spanked with a flyswatter by a woman, with the figure yelling, "They're coming to get me!" before normal programming resumed after about 90 seconds.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an immediate investigation into the signal hijacking, which required significant technical expertise. Experts indicate the perpetrators likely used a powerful microwave transmission from a high-rise location with a direct line of sight to the stations' broadcast towers, overpowering the legitimate signals. Despite the investigation and extensive speculation over the decades, the identities and motives of those responsible have never been officially determined.

The incident is considered one of the most famous examples of broadcast signal intrusion and has been referenced in various media. While the statute of limitations for the crime passed in 1992, the mystery surrounding the "Max Headroom incident" continues to fascinate, with no one ever claiming responsibility for the audacious act.