When Aliens ‘Hacked’ the News: The Strange Case of the 1977 TV Interruption

On the evening of November 26, 1977, a bizarre incident unfolded that would leave an indelible mark on the annals of broadcasting history. Viewers across southern England watching the Southern Television network were startled when their regular programming was abruptly interrupted—not by technical difficulties, but by an alleged message from beyond Earth.

At precisely 5:10 PM, as news anchor Ivor Mills was delivering the day’s events, the broadcast was hijacked. Instead of the usual visuals, viewers heard a distorted voice claiming to represent the “Ashtar Galactic Command.” This mysterious interruption lasted for six minutes, during which a figure named “Vrillon” delivered a message of peace and a stark warning about humanity’s path.

“This is the voice of Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command, speaking to you. For many years you have seen us as lights in the skies. We speak to you now in peace and wisdom as we have done to your brothers and sisters all over this, your planet Earth.

We come to warn you of the destiny of your race and your world so that you may communicate to your fellow beings the course you must take to avoid the disaster which threatens your world, and the beings on our worlds around you. This is in order that you may share in the great awakening, as the planet passes into the New Age of Aquarius. The New Age can be a time of great peace and evolution for your race, but only if your rulers are made aware of the evil forces that can overshadow their judgments.

Be still now and listen, for your chance may not come again. All your weapons of evil must be removed. The time for conflict is now past and the race of which you are a part may proceed to the higher stages of its evolution if you show yourselves worthy to do this. You have but a short time to learn to live together in peace and goodwill.

Small groups all over the planet are learning this, and exist to pass on the light of the dawning New Age to you all. You are free to accept or reject their teachings, but only those who learn to live in peace will pass to the higher realms of spiritual evolution.

Hear now the voice of Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command, speaking to you. Be aware also that there are many false prophets and guides operating in your world. They will suck your energy from you - the energy you call money and will put it to evil ends and give you worthless dross in return.

Your inner divine self will protect you from this. You must learn to be sensitive to the voice within that can tell you what is truth, and what is confusion, chaos, and untruth. Learn to listen to the voice of truth which is within you and you will lead yourselves onto the path of evolution.

This is our message to our dear friends. We have watched you growing for many years as you too have watched our lights in your skies. You know now that we are here, and that there are more beings on and around your Earth than your scientists admit.

We are deeply concerned about you and your path towards the light and will do all we can to help you. Have no fear, seek only to know yourselves, and live in harmony with the ways of your planet Earth. We of the Ashtar Galactic Command thank you for your attention. We are now leaving the plane of your existence. May you be blessed by the supreme love and truth of the cosmos.”

The broadcast intrusion was achieved by overriding the audio signal of the Hannington transmitter of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). The IBA’s transmitters were typically robust against unauthorised signals, which suggests that the hijacker had a sophisticated understanding of broadcast technology. Experts theorise that the individual may have used a powerful local transmitter, broadcasting directly on the same frequency, effectively overpowering the original signal.

The modulation technique used to insert the alien voice over the normal broadcast was likely amplitude modulation (AM) syncing precisely with the transmission’s carrier wave. This required not only technical expertise but also equipment that could emit a powerful enough signal to override or blend seamlessly with the existing broadcast.

Following the incident, the IBA conducted an investigation but failed to identify the perpetrator or determine exactly how the transmission was hijacked. The lack of physical evidence and the absence of a claim of responsibility have led to widespread speculation. Some suggest an insider job by someone with access to the transmission equipment; others speculate on the involvement of amateur radio hobbyists, who at the time had the skills and equipment to carry out such a stunt.

The message itself, laden with New Age ideologies and calls for disarmament, was reflective of the era’s social and political climate. The 1970s saw a rise in the popularity of alternative philosophies and deep skepticism about militarisation and technological progress. This context has led some to argue that the broadcast could have been an elaborate prank aimed at highlighting these issues.

Skeptics argue that the technical feasibility of the hoax, combined with its content and singular occurrence, strongly points to it being a terrestrial prank rather than a genuine extraterrestrial communication. Furthermore, the lack of subsequent verified incidents of a similar nature adds to the skepticism.

However, the style and seriousness of the message, and the fact that the perpetrator was never caught, continue to fuel alternative theories and discussions. The content of the message and its implications were aligned with the themes of peace and cosmic unity found in other reported extraterrestrial communications, which keeps the debate alive in ufological circles.

The 1977 Southern Television broadcast interruption straddles the line between an extraordinary extraterrestrial communication and a terrestrial hoax. Despite extensive speculation and analysis, the true nature of the message and the identity of its sender remain a mystery, making it a captivating footnote in the history of broadcasting and paranormal phenomena.