BBC turns off London TV signal - 1,000,000 hit by BBC2 blackout

Wednesday, April 4, 2012
12:47 PM

A television era ended in the early hours of this morning - which only viewers in London watching BBC 2 via aerial will have noticed.

At 12.20am engineers at Crystal Palace turned off the analogue signal after 45 years of transmission - plunged into darkness viewers with no digital box.

The last programme to be broadcast on the frequency was a documentary about the Wikileaks scandal. When the credits finished rolling at 00.20 the screen turned blank.

Up to 1 million homes are now without BBC 2 after failing to switch over to digital in time, experts estimate.

Time is running out for viewers to get a digital box before BBC1, ITV and Channel 4 are switched off on April 18.

“This is the biggest day for TV in London since Crystal Palace started broadcasting 56 years ago. From today, thousands of viewers across the capital and beyond can receive more channels and better quality pictures,” said Deborah Bain, London Manager for Digital UK:

“Anyone who still hasn’t switched to digital should prepare for 18 April when the last analogue channels will be permanently switched off. We urge everyone to get ready now – don’t leave it until the last minute.”