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Pontop Pike Transmitter Station

Pontop Pike was opened in 1953 to transmit BBC television on the 'old' VHF 405 line system. Its construction was brought forward by the BBC so that people in North East England could watch the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II live. Link
Transmission of this signal finally ceased in 1985, though since 1966 Pontop had been broadcasting (in colour) on the UHF 625 line system. The mast is a cable-stayed space-frame with height of 149m situated on a hill top 312m above sea level.
The transmitter accounts for UHF analogue and digital television transmissions to Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Tees Valley, most of Northumberland and parts of North Yorkshire. It also carries the national BBC Radio FM signals, covering the whole North East, as well as 95.4FM Radio Newcastle. It was one of the first national FM transmitters in December 1955. All of its television output (analogue and digital) is within the C/D group.
Analogue TV transmissions from this mast are due to cease on 25 October 2012, making Pontop Pike the very last transmitter in Great Britain to complete digital switchover (DSO).
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