ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Broadcast signal intrusion

So imagine you’re watching your favorite TV show at home. The TV station sends out a signal to your TV that tells it what to show you. But sometimes, weird things happen and someone else takes control of the signal that goes to your TV instead of the TV station.

This is called a broadcast signal intrusion. It’s like when your little brother or sister takes the TV remote and changes the channel when you’re trying to watch something. Except instead of your sibling, it’s someone outside the TV station who takes over the signal.

When a broadcast signal intrusion happens, the person who’s doing it can show whatever they want on your TV. They might show a creepy video or put up weird messages, like when someone hacked into a TV station in 1987 and showed a weird video of a person in a mask. It can be pretty scary, especially if you’re not expecting it.

The TV station usually tries to stop the intrusion as soon as they realize what’s happening. They might change their signal or ask for help from the police. But sometimes, it’s hard to find the person who’s doing the intrusion because they might be using special equipment to hide their location.

In the end, broadcast signal intrusions are a bit like a prank, but they can be pretty creepy and upsetting. It’s important to always remember that not everything you see on TV is real, and to be careful about what you watch.
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