Blipverts - Deadly subliminal form of TV advertisement developed by 16-year-old computer genius Bryce Lynch (Chris Young) Head of Research and Development for the futuristic TV Network 23/XXIII on the sci-fi series MAX HEADROOM/ABC/1987. A Blipvert (a combination of "blip" and "advertisement") compressed a 30-second commercial into only three seconds. Designed to keep viewers from switching channels during commercials, the futuristic Network 23 used Blipverts to maintain its standing in a world gone mad over television where a TV set had no off switch and the name of the game was ratings. Unfortunately, there was a side-effect to this new form of advertisement. The Blipverts short-circuited the nervous system of inactive people, causing an explosion from the built up electrical charges in their sedentary bodies. Network President, Mr. Grosberg (Charles Rocket) fearing the lose of their major client, the Zik Zak Corporation (who used the three second commercials), decided to continue with the Blipverts. As one cold-hearted executive remarked "The only people inactive are the pensioned, the sick and the unemployed. I mean, who really cares?" Award winning investigative reporter, Edison Carter (Matt Frewer) "answering the questions other people are afraid to ask" penetrated the secret 13th floor of Network 23 with the help of  his beautiful and talented controller, Theora Jones (Amanda Pays), to discover what a Blipvert was and to reveal its side-effects to his viewers. See also - COMPUTER BEINGS - "Max Headroom"