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

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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 5.10pm. 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

The pirate broadcast involved an individual (whose name is disputed, being known as “Vrillon” or “Asteron”) claiming to be a representative of an "Intergalactic Association", warning viewers to be at peace with each other, and to remove all “weapons of evil”. According to several initial reports, the transcript was as follows:

This is the voice of Asteron. I am an authorised representative of the Intergalactic Mission, and I have a message for the planet Earth. We are beginning to enter the period of Aquarius and there are many corrections which have to be made by Earth people. All your weapons of evil must be destroyed. You have only a short time to learn to live together in peace. You must live in peace... or leave the galaxy.[1][2][3]

However, in his 2009 book 2012 A Family Brief: The Science is all in, Robert Horton disputes this transcript, instead stating that the real transcript was much longer:

This is the voice of Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command, speaking to you. For many years you have seen us as lights in the skies. We speak to you now in peace and wisdom as we have done to your brothers and sisters all over this, your planet Earth. We come to warn you of the destiny of your race and your world so that you may communicate to your fellow beings the course you must take to avoid the disaster which threatens your world, and the beings on our worlds around you. This is in order that you may share in the great awakening, as the planet passes into the New Age of Aquarius. The New Age can be a time of great peace and evolution for your race, but only if your rulers are made aware of the evil forces that can overshadow their judgments. Be still now and listen, for your chance may not come again. All your weapons of evil must be removed. The time for conflict is now past and the race of which you are a part may proceed to the higher stages of its evolution if you show yourselves worthy to do this. You have but a short time to learn to live together in peace and goodwill. Small groups all over the planet are learning this, and exist to pass on the light of the dawning New Age to you all. You are free to accept or reject their teachings, but only those who learn to live in peace will pass to the higher realms of spiritual evolution. Hear now the voice of Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command, speaking to you. Be aware also that there are many false prophets and guides at present operating on your world. They will suck your energy from you – the energy you call money and will put it to evil ends and give you worthless dross in return. Your inner divine self will protect you from this. You must learn to be sensitive to the voice within that can tell you what is truth, and what is confusion, chaos and untruth. Learn to listen to the voice of truth which is within you and you will lead yourselves onto the path of evolution. This is our message to our dear friends. We have watched you growing for many years as you too have watched our lights in your skies. You know now that we are here, and that there are more beings on and around your Earth than your scientists admit. We are deeply concerned about you and your path towards the light and will do all we can to help you. Have no fear, seek only to know yourselves, and live in harmony with the ways of your planet Earth. We of the Ashtar Galactic Command thank you for your attention. We are now leaving the planes of your existence. May you be blessed by the supreme love and truth of the cosmos.[4]

The speech ended after six minutes, with the audio returning to normal during an episode of Looney Tunes. The hijacker’s identity remains unknown.

Availability

Although recreations of the hijacking can be easily found on YouTube, the actual audio and footage of the event are lost[5][6]. 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, stating:

I'd first like to refer to the recording itself of the complete message, one thing that struck me was that there was in fact nothing threatening whatsoever on the tape, and I was aware that most of the newspaper reports said it was threatening and frightening and so on, and so forth, and I just want to point out that that's sort-of a projection of the fears onto the material itself rather than the reality.[7]

However, the recording, if it still exists, has never been accessible for public viewing.

Gallery

Recreation of the hijack, utilising Horton's transcript

References