VIDEO: Crystal Palace transmitter lit up to celebrate digital switchover (From News Shopper)

VIDEO: Crystal Palace transmitter lit up to celebrate digital switchover

12:31pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in Freetime latest news By Robert Fisk

THE Crystal Palace transmitter was lit up last night (April 18) to mark the digital television switchover in London and the Home Counties.

Legendary broadcaster Sir David Attenborough pressed the red button illuminating the 219 metre high tower for a light show which, despite the cloudy wet night, was watched by thousands of people across the area.

Celebrity guests at a special ceremony under the transmitter shared their greatest television moments.

Former BBC director general Greg Dyke recalled Geoff Hurst’s goal in the 1966 World Cup and his favourite comedy The Likely Lads.

He said: “This is a momentous moment in terms of choice of television.

“We are all guilty of forgetting the range and quality of television we have in this country and it’s all got a lot better with the digital switchover.”

The transmitter is owned by Arqiva whose chief executive John Cresswell said: “This is a broadcasting landmark and digital switchover is an amazing engineering and technical feat and a fantastic story of British success.

“The UK has an amazing record of producing fantastic television.

“Freeview is the platform of choice across the UK and the investment we have just made will ensure it continues to be relevant for the next twenty years. ”

The event started at 9.15pm and the same light show will be run again tonight.

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