THE terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City on 11 September, 2001, has been voted the most iconic TV moment of all time.
Second in the top ten of memorable televised events was Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon on 21 July, 1969, when he made "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".
However, Scots differed from the rest of viewers in Britain who
took part in the online survey commissioned by TV Licensing by putting the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 in third place.
Elsewhere in the UK, television viewers ranked the event third equal with the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 – while Scots put the funeral in fifth place.
Not surprisingly, there was a marked difference in the most memorable sporting event, with Scottish viewers ranking Archie Gemmill's goal against Holland in the 1978 World Cup in eighth place.
Viewers south of the Border chose the England team's 1966 World Cup victory as their eighth most iconic moment.
TV Licensing spokesman Fergus Reid said: "A lot has changed in the 40 years since Neil Armstrong first set foot on the Moon, not least how we watch TV.
"A great example is that many people will have gathered round a computer – rather than a TV set – to watch the most recent event in our top ten, Barack Obama's inauguration."
Football pundit and former Scottish star Alan Hansen revealed how his most memorable TV moment inspired his career.
He said: "I remember watching the World Cup final in 1970, Italy versus Brazil, the fourth goal, and at that moment knew that I wanted to be there myself, playing in games like that in a World Cup. I will never forget watching that game."
Last night, former BBC senior manager Andrew Jones, the head of journalism at Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University, said:
"It's interesting that the most iconic moments are major news events, rather than comedy and entertainment.
"The difference between 9/11 and other news stories, and what made it extraordinary, was that the audience were participants when the second tower came down. It was in real time on people's screens."
Mr Jones added: "I'm not surprised Diana's funeral was not No3 in Scotland, as there are probably more republicans – though this can't be proven.
"The football moments are massively significant too, especially for Scotland, because they are a combination of victory but sometimes tragedy and angst.
"However much the media has proliferated, it still has a pivotal role and people still congregate together round a television at key moments," Mr Jones said.
Iain Logie Baird, curator of Television at the National Media Museum in Bradford and grandson of John Logie Baird, the Helensburgh-born inventor of television, said: "A large part of television's power lies in how it is able to transmit vision and sound instantaneously. Moments like the Moon landing are ephemeral – they can be experienced only once in real time.
"Watching TV images from the Moon was a completely new experience for viewers, and still exerts a powerful hold over our collective imagination."
The world in your living room: how Scots viewers votedSCOTTISH viewers' most iconic TV moments:
1. 9/11 terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York (2001) – 41 per cent.
2. Man walks on the Moon for the first time (1969) – 23 per cent.
3. Fall of the Berlin Wall which had divided East and West Berlin for 30 years (1989) – 8 per cent.
4. Barack Obama's election/inauguration as US president (2009) – 7 per cent.
5. Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales (1997) – 5 per cent.
6. Assassination of John F Kennedy (1963) – 4 per cent.
7. Nelson Mandela leaves Victor Verster prison after 27 years' imprisonment (1990) – 3 per cent.
>8. Archie Gemmill's goal against Holland in the 1978 World Cup – 2 per cent
>8 Live Aid appeal (1985) – 2 per cent.
9. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer marry (1981) – 1 per cent.
• The YouGov poll of 2,035 adults was carried out between 12 and 15 June, 2009.
