On this Day 1965: ATV Membury transmitter

OTD, January 22nd 1965…

The latest in broadcasting technology is turned on in the Midlands as ATV Midlands, ABC Weekend Television and the Independent Television Authority – now Ofcom – launch a new transmitter.

The ATV Membury transmitter mast was constructed at Lambourn in Berkshire to provide ITV programming from ATV during the week and ABC at weekends. This format of two ITV companies for the Midlands ran from 1956 until 1968 when ATV became the sole broadcaster for the area.

In January 1982 the mast became part of the Central Independent Television service, before being closed as a TV mast in January 1985 when the old 405-line VHF signals were turned off for the final time. It remained dormant for a decade before radio services were output from it, and more recently a DAB transmitter was added, it also offers mobile phone signal output.

It has a 152.4 m (500 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast and is currently operated by Arqiva.