[rec.music.gaffa] "Pirate TV" on MTV

mcb@PRESTO.IG.COM (Michael C. Berch) (01/21/90)

larry@csccat.UUCP (Larry Spence) writes:
> Did anyone else see the interruption of the "Love and Anger" video
> at 11:25 PM CDT Thursday night on MTV?  Kate was standing in front of
> the line of dancers, and suddenly a big skull and crossbones with the 
> caption "PIRATE TV" appeared instead.  There was maniacal laughter for
> about five seconds, then it reverted to the LaA video.  I am not
> kidding!
> 
> Was this:
> 
>   1) A cheap MTV stunt?  If so, I would think Kate would be
>      pissed at her video being "violated" like this. 
> 
>   2) A genuine pirate (intercepted satellite link, microwave
>      link, etc.)?

About half an hour ago I saw a "Pirate TV" interruption of a video
(Great White or White Lion or Whitesnake, or somebody like that, I
wasn't paying attention, just waiting for "Yo! MTV Raps" to come on
while reading netnews), and almost believed it, but the logo looked too
corny, and the video snow background and lack of vertical hold looked fake.

I'm assuming this is some obnoxious sort of MTV promotion, which will
probably involve a 900-number.  MTV has apparently hired a new
advertising and PR firm, and they're buying a lot of time on radio
stations trying to build up sagging ratings.

--
Michael C. Berch  
mcb@presto.ig.com / uunet!presto.ig.com!mcb / ames!bionet!mcb

jsd@GAFFA.MIT.EDU (Walter "Dateline: The Copa" Monheit (TM)) (01/21/90)

Not to beat the point much more, but just sort of wanting to slam the
final nail into the coffin on this MTV "Pirate TV" stunt:

I just saw another interruption and this time the pirates were talking
Russian while Spanish subtitles flashed on the screen - The subtitles
were displayed in the same font that MTV uses for almost all of their
clips, captions, etc (not the one at the bottom left of the screen at
the start/end of videos, though).  I think we can safely ignore this
now forever and ever.

Although, you sort of have to admire whoever thought the gimmick up -
after all, it's got us all talking about MTV right?  And how many of
you now have a sort of curiosity to tune in and maybe catch another
pirate TV break in?

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nessus@GAFFA.MIT.EDU (Doug Alan) (01/23/90)

This whole pirate-radio scam sounds like something that the TV executives
on *Max Headroom* would have thought up....

|>oug "I'd rather be watching *Max Headroom*" /\lan