Croydon transmitting station

The Croydon transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications transmitter. It is in Upper Norwood, Croydon, London, England. It is owned by Arqiva. It was built in 1955. It originally used a small lattice tower. The tower currently used was made in 1962. The mast is 152 metres (499 ft) high.

Croydon

Mast height	152 meters (499 feet)
Coordinates	51°24′35″N 0°05′09″W
BBC region	BBC London (backup)
ITV region	ITV London (backup)
Local TV service	London Live (backup)
Digital switchover	18 April 2012

The transmitter is also a maintenance base for transmitter maintenence teams. It also used to have one of four Regional Operations Centres.

History

It was made by the Independent Television Authority to broadcast ITV on VHF Band III. After UHF television began, the Crystal Palace transmitting station was used. After VHF television ended in January 1985, the Croydon transmitter was not used until 1997.

In 1997, a new directional UHF antenna was given to the transmitter so it could transmit Channel 5 in London. Directional antennas were chosen so it wouldn't interfere with transmitters on continental Europe. It transmitted Channel 5's analogue signal until April 2012, when digital switchover meant that analogue signals were turned of in London. The digital Channel 5 signal was transmitted from Crystal Palace. Croydon also had backup transmitters for BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4. The backup transmitters were only used during engineering works or an issue at Crystal Palace.

After the digital switchover, no television has been transmitted from Croydon.

Channels by frequency

Analogue (FM) Radio

Frequency	kW	Service
94.9 MHz	-	BBC Radio London†
95.8 MHz	4	Capital London
97.3 MHz	4	LBC
97.8 MHz	4	Croydon FM
100.0 MHz	4	Kiss
102.2 MHz	4	Smooth London
105.4 MHz	4	Magic
106.2 MHz	4	Heart London

† Backup for the Crystal Palace transmitter.

Digital (DAB) Radio

Frequency	Block	kW	Multiplex
218.640 MHz	11B	2.5	DRG London
223.936 MHz	12A	5	Switch London
227.260 MHz	12C	5	London 1

Analogue television

22 September 1955 - 3 January 1985

The first ITV companies which served London were Associated-Rediffusion on weekdays and Associated Television (ATV) on weekends. They started transmitting on 22 September 1955. They were the first ITV franchises to go on air. After the mast was rebuilt in 1962 the transmitter power was increased from 60 kW to 400 kW. In 1968, Thames and London Weekend Television (LWT) replaced the first two companies, with Thames replacing Rediffusion and LWT replacing ATV. On the 3 January 1985, the VHF television service stopped.

Frequency	VHF	kW	Service
194.75 MHz	9	400	Rediffusion/ATV (1955-1968) Thames/LWT(1968-1985)

30 March 1997 - 18 April 2012

Channel 5 started on 30 March 1997. It started from Croydon and other retired IBA VHF transmitters in the UK. Later on, backup transmitters for ITV and Channel 4 were added in case Crystal Palace couldn't transmit the channels. Sometime later, BBC1 and BBC2 reserve transmitters were also added.

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
487.25 MHz	23	-	ITV London†
543.25 MHz	30	-	Channel 4†
599.25 MHz	37	1000	Channel 5

† Backups for Crystal Palace.

Digital television

18 April 2012 - present

Since 18 April 2012, no television has been transmitted from Croydon. The backups are still usable should any issues happen at Crystal Palace.

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service	System
490.000 MHz	23	200	BBC A†	DVB-T
514.000 MHz	26	200	Digital 3&4†	DVB-T
545.833 MHz	30-	200	BBC B†	DVB-T2

† Backups for Crystal Palace.