Broadcast signal intrusion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Broadcast signal intrusion is a term given to the act of hijacking broadcast signals of radio and television stations. And it's not just local broadcast stations, certain cable networks have also had their signals hijacked as well. According to the Federal Communications Commission, the original penalties of signal hijacking are $100,000 in fines and/or 1 year in prison until late 1987 or early 1988, when Congress passed a bill that would penalize violators with fines up to $250,000 and/or 10 years in prison. Those who engage in such acts are oftenly referred to as "video pirates" or "video hackers". Hijacking the signal is considered a felony in the United States.
Contents |
[edit] Actual Events
[edit] Captain Midnight on HBO
At 12:32 am Eastern Time on April 26, 1986, HBO (or Home Box Office) had its signal hijacked from its satellite tower in Long Island by a man calling himself "Captain Midnight". The interruption occurred during a presentation of The Falcon and the Snowman starring Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton. The intrusion lasted between 4 and 5 minutes and was seen by viewers along the East Coast. The man who during the interruption threatened to hijack the signals of Showtime and The Movie Channel, was later caught—identified as John R. MacDougall of Ocala, Florida. He was prosecuted shortly there after. Authorites were tipped off by a man from Wisconsin in a phone booth at a rest stop off Interstate 75 in Gainesville, Florida. The man filing the report said that he overheard MacDougall bragging about it. He was fined $5,000 and served a year probation. McDougall stated that he did it because he was frustrated with the service rates constituted by HBO of which were unworthy of one's tolerance. He also said that it was hurting his business selling satellite dishes. The message broadcast by MacDougall read:
|
FROM CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT $12.95/MONTH ? NO WAY ! (SHOWTIME/MOVIE CHANNEL BEWARE!) |
[edit] Religious Takeover
In September of 1987, Playboy TV (then known as the Playboy Channel) -- based on the popular adult magazine, had its signal hijacked by a man later identified as Thomas Haynie who was employed by the Christian Broadcasting Network. He was convicted and was suspended from his duties under the new provisions. [citation needed]
[edit] The Hunt for Chicago's Video Pirate
On November 22, 1987, another person -- this time wearing a Max Headroom mask, intercepted the signals of two television stations in Chicago. Independent (now CW) station WGN-TV, owned by Tribune Company was first in line. Its signal was hijacked during the sports report on its 9:00 pm newscast -- this intrusion lasted about 25 seconds. Then came PBS station WTTW -- and unfortunately for WTTW, the Max Headroom pirate was seen and heard uttering obscene remarks and later posed nude by dropping his pants, and was then spanked before the screen went black. That interception occurred at about 11:00 pm in which at that time the station was transmitting an episode of Doctor Who, entitled Horror of Fang Rock and lasted almost 90 seconds. To this day, the man responsible for these infractions still goes unidentified. This incident got the attention of the CBS Evening News the very next day and was talked about nationwide. The HBO incident was also mentioned in the same news report, presented by Frank Currier. Both WGN and WTTW along with Chicago's other television stations are broadcast from high atop two of the world's tallest buildings -- the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Center.
[edit] Fictional Events
[edit] Used Cars
In the 1980 film Used Cars released by Columbia Pictures starring Kurt Russell and Jack Warden saw an incident of its own while they competed to provide the best deal on used cars.
[edit] The Art of Hacking
Signal intrusion was the theme of an episode of The Max Headroom Show entitled Academy which aired on ABC on September 18, 1987.
[edit] "Catch you later Bill & Ted!!!"
In the 1991 film Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey released by Orion Pictures (now part of United Artists) starring Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, William Sadler and George Carlin, the character Chuck De Nomolos played by British actor Joss Ackland points and shoots (what appears to be) a ray gun at a TV camera -- the camera then sends afterwaves to a satellite in outer space which in turn sends the same signal to every channel in the world.
[edit] Graphic Examples
 Image broadcasted by "Captain Midnight" on HBO. |
 The Chicago Video Pirate on WTTW. |
[edit] See also
- WGN-TV
- WTTW
- Max Headroom
- HBO
- Captain Midnight
- The Falcon and the Snowman
- Doctor Who
- CBS News
- Sears Tower
- John Hancock Center
- Federal Communications Commission
