Hackers infiltrated the system of local emergency broadcast station KRTV in Great Falls, Montana, a CBS affiliate, and zombie reporting, the station said Tuesday.
Spectators were warned of a so-called zombie apocalypse and advised not to get caught up with monstrous creatures, the station said.
Station engineers were investigating the incident, which occurred during a broadcast on Monday afternoon, said Jon Saunders, vice President of the station's parent company, Cordillera Communications.
Videos posted on the Internet shows that the transmission interrupted local transmission of Steve Wilkos talk shows.
No images flashed across the screen during the prank. But a male voice told viewers: "the civil authorities in your area have reported that the bodies of the dead are rising from the grave and attacking life." The voice warned "not to approach or catch these bodies as they are extremely dangerous."
Saunders said early reports suggest similar but separate attacks were launched in the last 24 hours against emergency alarm systems for TV stations elsewhere, including Michigan.
"It seems to be more prevalent than we thought," he said.
The hoax has caused several humorous-minded residents in Great Falls to call the authorities to ask if guns were an adequate defense against hordes of zombies.
"We don't have any set calls about it," said Bill Hunter, spokesman for the Police Department in Great Falls.
Local police has not been asked to investigate the hack in Montana station, he said. Hunter said it was not immediately clear why the hackers had been trying to get a rise of a scare of zombies.
"It was a real giggle," he said.
(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis, Cynthia Johnston and Leslie Adler)
