Southern Television 'Vrillon' Incident

The Southern Television broadcast incident was one of the first (if not the first) cases of television hijacking. On the 26th of November 1977 at around 5.10 pm, an "alien" managed to interrupt the broadcast of the local ITV station Southern Television via the Hannington transmitter. The voice overrode the UHF audio signal of the early-evening news being read by the late Andrew Gardner from ITN. The interruption ceased a minute after the statement had been delivered, with the tranmission returning to normal after an episode of Looney Tunes (Merrie Melodies). Below is the transcript of what this "alien" had to say.

Transcript
"This is the voice of Vrillon, the Representative of the Asta Galactic Command speaking to you.

For many years now 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 worlds so that you may communicate to your fellow beings the course you must take to avoid the disasters which threaten your worlds 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. For many years your scientists, governments and generals have not heeded our warnings; they have continued to experiment with the evil forces of what you call nuclear energy. Atomic bombs can destroy the earth and the beings of your sister worlds, in a moment.

The wastes from atomic power systems will poison your planet for many thousands of your years to come. We, who have followed the path of evolution for far longer than you, have long since realized this -- that atomic energy is always directed against life. It has no peaceful application. Its use, and research into its use, must be ceased at once, or you all risk destruction. All weapons of evil must be removed.

The time of conflict is now past and the race of which you are a part may proceed to the highest planes of 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, the representative of the Asta Galactic Command speaking to you. Be aware also that there are many false prophets and guides operating on your world. They will suck your energy from you -- the energy you call money and will put it to evil ends giving 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 on to the path of evolution. This is our message to you our dear friends. We have watched you growing for many years as you too have watched our lights in your skies. You know 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 fears, seek only to know yourselves and live in harmony with the ways of your planet earth. We of the Asta 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."

Aftermath
Later in the evening, Andrew Gardner apologised for what he described as "a breakthrough in sound" for some viewers. After some modern research the interruption was recorded on tape and can be seen on Youtube and other video-sharing websites.

The broadcast message was considered to be a hoax by most sources, although some people, still question the explanation of a transmitter hijack. The editorial board of one local newspaper the Eugene Register-Guard was one of those people, stating that "Nobody seemed to consider that "Vrillon" may have been for real."

And to this day, "Vrillon" is still at large.