World's Tallest Free-Standing Broadcast Tower Completed

dtmos writes "The world's tallest free-standing broadcast tower has been completed, in Tokyo (video). Rising to 634.0 metres (2,080 ft), it is the second-tallest structure in the world, after the Burj Khalifa. Completion was delayed two months due to the effects of the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami."

Comments

Re:An impressive project

[pegasustonans]

Very impressive, though I can't help thinking its a vanity project and broadcasting from a number of smaller towers would be cheaper. I suppose that probably goes for all the world's ultra tall buildings though

It replaced the Tokyo Tower (a smaller tower), specifically because the surrounding buildings were getting quite tall and causing problems.

You say a bunch of smaller towers would be cheaper, but I hear the real estate in Tokyo is just a tad expensive.

Re:An impressive project

[MacGyver2210]

You need to understand how the broadcast television system works in Japan. There are ~8-10 total networks with terrestrial broadcast stations throughout the entire country, several run by the NHK (government-run television system). In Tokyo, you can get about 7 of them. Most other stations are only available via cable or satellite, and the number of local channels even via cable in Japan is extremely low compared to the US.

That said, in Japan space on the ground is often at more of a premium than materials to build with. If they can create one large broadcast tower to service all of Tokyo, they will - in the overall scheme - probably save billions and billions of yen. This was the idea behind the Tokyo Tower (the big red Eiffel tower looking thing) but that was created so long ago that it is now outdated and needs an upgrade to reach everyone.

I find the architecture to be pretty cool in this Sky Tree, though it really sticks out. I think the guys over at Tokyo Yakei (Tokyo Night Windows) got the best shots of it so far(even though it's earlier on in the construction): Tokyo Sky Tree at Night