According to the latest Nielsen survey, less than eight percent of the Detroit DMA is still completely unready for the DTV transition taking place on June 12th, 2009. This translates to 146,000 households.

One of the first questions asked is, "How do I know if my television is ready for digital or is it still receiving analog signals?"  The Detroit Area Television Stations are going to help viewers figure that out with a series of soft-tests called, "Test Your TV Tuesday."

What makes the Detroit television stations unique in their DTV efforts is that "Test Your TV Tuesday" began on December 16 and will continue until June 9, 2009.  The test will air on scheduled Tuesdays in an effort to reach as many people as possible with varying viewing habits.  The tests will be road blocked on all participating television stations in the market for maximum exposure.

"Detroit is the first in the state to hold such a weekly test and they are to be congratulated for their dedication to viewers," said Karole White, president of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.   "Following the Detroit test, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters will duplicate this marvelous citizen awareness DTV test in all other markets using the format of the Detroit Television Stations."

Stations will also air promotional messages in advance of each test so viewers will know what time they can expect a Tuesday test.  The test will be sixty seconds in length and will encourage individuals seeing it to check their other televisions in the home.

Here is how it works:

If the television receives a green message marked "PASS," that television is receiving a digital signal and is ready for DTV.  Viewers will be encouraged to check all sets in the home to be sure they'll receive uninterrupted viewing after the DTV transition. If a television set receives a red screen marked "FAIL," that TV is still receiving an analog signal and additional steps will need to be taken to ensure that television is ready for DTV or they will lose their local over-the-air television signals on June 12th, 2009.

This "FAIL" screen will also inform the viewer where to get additional information to take further steps.  The web site and phone help line that will be promoted and used for this test will be www.michigandtv.com and 1-888-MI-DTV-09. The Michigan DTV helpline is sponsored by Don-Lors Electronics and allows individuals to speak with a real person or leave a number to receive a call back from a technician who can answers specific DTV questions.  The "FAIL" test will also inform the viewers that if they are a cable or satellite subscriber they need to contact their providers if they are receiving "FAIL" messages.  The Detroit market has determined that all stations are ready for providers to receive and convert their digital signals and there is an effort to make this happen before the tests to minimize the "FAIL" test messages that are viewed in the market.

The dates and airtimes are as follows:
May 12 at 5:59 PM
May 19 at 2:59 PM
May 26 at 11:12 PM
Jun 2 at 6:42 AM
Jun 9 at 7:59 PM

The participating television stations are as follows: WDIV (NBC), WJBK (FOX), WKBD (CW), WXYZ (ABC), WWJ (CBS)

More information is available on the MAB Website, www.michmab.com and on the websites of the local stations or by calling the Michigan DTV Helpline sponsored by Don-Lors electronics 1-888 MI-DTV-09.