Southern Television broadcast intrusion (lost real-time footage of television hijack; 1977): Difference between revisions

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(Update regarding the audio being found, but the footage of it occurring in real-time being lost (circulated video is a fake).)
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==Details==
==Details==
There is no agreed-upon version of the pirate broadcast's content, save that it involved an individual claiming to be an alien - variously remembered as "Gillon", "Vrillon" or "Asteron" - calling himself a representative of an "Intergalactic Association" and briefly warning viewers that they only had a short time to either learn to live in peace and remove all “weapons of evil”, or end up leaving the galaxy altogether.<ref>[http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Olive/APA/collegian/sharedpages/SharedView.Page.aspx?sk=F2A1959A&href=DCG%2F1977%2F12%2F02&page=18 'Galatic' hoax startles viewers]</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S6AFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMDAAAAIBAJ&dq=&pg=1860%2C4460747 Mysterious broadcast from 'outer space']</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KgkQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YY8DAAAAIBAJ&dq=&pg=5086%2C3662230 British viewers hear 'message']</ref>  
Following the hijack, there was no agreed-upon version of the pirate broadcast's content, save that it involved an individual claiming to be an alien - variously remembered as "Gillon", "Vrillon" or "Asteron" - calling himself a representative of an "Intergalactic Association" and briefly warning viewers that they only had a short time to either learn to live in peace and remove all “weapons of evil”, or end up leaving the galaxy altogether.<ref>[http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Olive/APA/collegian/sharedpages/SharedView.Page.aspx?sk=F2A1959A&href=DCG%2F1977%2F12%2F02&page=18 'Galatic' hoax startles viewers]</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S6AFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMDAAAAIBAJ&dq=&pg=1860%2C4460747 Mysterious broadcast from 'outer space']</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KgkQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YY8DAAAAIBAJ&dq=&pg=5086%2C3662230 British viewers hear 'message']</ref>  


However, in his 2009 book ''2012 A Family Brief: The Science is all in'', Robert Horton claims that "Vrillon"'s message was much longer and (coincidentally or not) referenced several core tenets of the New Age spiritual movement, claiming that mankind was on the verge of entering a new Age of Aquarius if only they would eschew the evils of commerce and instead open their hearts and minds to the universe's 'cosmic truth and love.' <ref>Horton, Robert L. (2009). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HKIS-wQ0tXoC&pg=PA229&dq=2012+A+Family+Brief:+The+Science+is+all+in+vrillon&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjh4fqWvvDfAhUGTBUIHWTPAusQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=2012%20A%20Family%20Brief%3A%20The%20Science%20is%20all%20in%20vrillon&f=false 2012 A Family Brief: The Science is all in]</ref>
Ultimately, the message was much longer and (coincidentally or not) referenced several core tenets of the New Age spiritual movement, claiming that mankind was on the verge of entering a new Age of Aquarius if only they would eschew the evils of commerce and instead open their hearts and minds to the universe's 'cosmic truth and love.' <ref>Horton, Robert L. (2009). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HKIS-wQ0tXoC&pg=PA229&dq=2012+A+Family+Brief:+The+Science+is+all+in+vrillon&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjh4fqWvvDfAhUGTBUIHWTPAusQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=2012%20A%20Family%20Brief%3A%20The%20Science%20is%20all%20in%20vrillon&f=false 2012 A Family Brief: The Science is all in]</ref> The speech lasted around six minutes, with the audio returning to normal during an episode of Looney Tunes. The hijacker’s identity remains unknown.  
The speech lasted somewhere between two and six minutes, with the audio returning to normal during an episode of Looney Tunes. The hijacker’s identity remains unknown.  


==Availability==
==Availability==
Although recreations of the hijacking can be easily found on YouTube, the actual audio and footage of the event are lost<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/4dafoe/who_was_vrillon_the_southern_television_broadcast/ Who was "Vrillon"? - The Southern Television Broadcast Intrusion]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/59wgtq/is_this_the_original_vrillon_audio_recording_from/|Is this the original Vrillon audio recording from 1977?]</ref>. One recording of the actual event may exist, however. During an interview with Sir John Whitmore on LBC in December 1977, Whitmore claimed to have viewed a recording of the complete hijacking.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110825124949/http://radio.bufvc.ac.uk/lbc/index.php/segment/0018800437019 Space message on Southern TV]</ref> However, the recording, if it still exists, has never been accessible for public viewing.
There was some confusion regarding what media of this broadcast intrusion was missing. For years, it was assumed that both the audio and the footage of it occurring in real-time were publicly available, thanks to a frequently circulated video. However, the commonly seen video is a fake. Evidence confirming this includes how the reporter in the video is Cliff Michelmore during a report for local Southern television news, rather than Andrew Gardner reporting for ITN News. Additionally, a Cartoon Network logo can be seen in the Looney Tunes footage, Cartoon Network not even existing until 1992.<ref>[https://tvforum.uk/tvhome/40-years-1-day-43147 ''TV Forum'' post, which debunked the circulated video and provided further information regarding the intrusion.] Retrieved 18 Apr '21</ref> Ultimately, no known footage of the event occurring has been found.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/4dafoe/who_was_vrillon_the_southern_television_broadcast/ Who was "Vrillon"? - The Southern Television Broadcast Intrusion]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/59wgtq/is_this_the_original_vrillon_audio_recording_from/|Is this the original Vrillon audio recording from 1977?]</ref>.
 
However, the broadcast intrusion's audio has been found. On 16th August 2008, YouTuber ParaNormal uploaded both the intrusion, and two news reports concerning the incident.<ref>[https://youtu.be/9Y9SxwbFK0w YouTube clip with the full audio.] Retrieved 18 Apr '21</ref> A higher quality version was also available on the MB21 website.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190129170825/http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/hannington/spacemessage-offair.mp3 Archived MB21 page, which provided a higher quality version of the audio.] Retrieved 18 Apr '21</ref>  


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Video|perrow  =1
{{Video|perrow  =1
   |service1    =youtube
   |service1    =youtube
   |id1          =l6Wpwvf7M_w
   |id1          =9Y9SxwbFK0w
   |description1 =Recreation of the hijack, utilising Horton's transcript
   |description1 =Audio of the hijack
}}
}}
<gallery mode=packed heights=500px>
File:Southernvrillontvguide.jpg|TV guide showcasing Southern Television's content on the day. The hijack occurred when Southern Television was broadcasting the London feed, and ended during its Cartoons slot.
</gallery>


==See Also==
==See Also==

Revision as of 20:45, 19 April 2021

Hanningtontransmitter.jpg

The Hannington transmitter, which was hijacked in 1977

Status: Lost

The Southern Television hijacking was a television intrusion incident that occurred on 26 November 1977, at 5:10 p.m. The hijack managed to override the UHF audio signal transmitted by the Hannington transmitter, while distorting the UHF video signal that was transmitting ITN News with news reporter Andrew Gardner.

Details

Following the hijack, there was no agreed-upon version of the pirate broadcast's content, save that it involved an individual claiming to be an alien - variously remembered as "Gillon", "Vrillon" or "Asteron" - calling himself a representative of an "Intergalactic Association" and briefly warning viewers that they only had a short time to either learn to live in peace and remove all “weapons of evil”, or end up leaving the galaxy altogether.[1][2][3]

Ultimately, the message was much longer and (coincidentally or not) referenced several core tenets of the New Age spiritual movement, claiming that mankind was on the verge of entering a new Age of Aquarius if only they would eschew the evils of commerce and instead open their hearts and minds to the universe's 'cosmic truth and love.' [4] The speech lasted around six minutes, with the audio returning to normal during an episode of Looney Tunes. The hijacker’s identity remains unknown.

Availability

There was some confusion regarding what media of this broadcast intrusion was missing. For years, it was assumed that both the audio and the footage of it occurring in real-time were publicly available, thanks to a frequently circulated video. However, the commonly seen video is a fake. Evidence confirming this includes how the reporter in the video is Cliff Michelmore during a report for local Southern television news, rather than Andrew Gardner reporting for ITN News. Additionally, a Cartoon Network logo can be seen in the Looney Tunes footage, Cartoon Network not even existing until 1992.[5] Ultimately, no known footage of the event occurring has been found.[6][7].

However, the broadcast intrusion's audio has been found. On 16th August 2008, YouTuber ParaNormal uploaded both the intrusion, and two news reports concerning the incident.[8] A higher quality version was also available on the MB21 website.[9]

Gallery

Audio of the hijack

See Also

References