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Choose a Digital System That's Right for You

Learn how your new digital TV can work with your home security system, audio components, and more. Contact the professionals at Audio Video Alternatives, 32538 Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, Michigan, at (248) 549-3100 or avalternatives.com. They're a proud supporter of Detroit Public TV.

Free over-the-air television is changing from traditional analog transmission to digital technology (DTV) on February 17, 2009 as required by law.  After that date, some viewers with older TV sets may not be able to receive Channel 56. To receive the new digital television signals (DTV), you'll need to take action.

Learn how to prepare with DTV Answers or MichiganDTV.com.

If you have an older TV set and use "rabbit ears" or an outdoor antenna to receive free over-the-air signals, you'll need a DTV converter box. A DTV converter box is an easy-to-install electronic device that hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and converts the digital television, making it viewable on your analog TV.

Now until March 31, 2009, each household may receive up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to help defray the cost (approximately $60) of the converter box, which will be available for purchase later in 2008. Consumers may request their coupons (supplies are limited) at 1-888-DTV-2009 or by downloading it. For more information, click here.

Many people who get a new High Definition TV (HDTV) are amazed at the new channels they receive free, over the air, including three from WTVS Detroit Public Television. 

• 56.1 carries high definition (HDTV) and wide screen standard definition (SD) PBS programs.
• 56.2 is a crystal-clear digital copy of our current analog channel 56
• 56.3 CREATE is the 24-hour "how-to" channel of cooking, crafts, travel, and home improvement.

At Detroit Public Television, we want you to enjoy digital television.

See what's on by checking our Digital Program Schedule.

For more information, please watch these short videos.

Digital TV Update

To help you prepare for the digital transition, we offer a list of frequently asked questions and related links to ensure that you're able to keep watching your favorite PBS shows.

Occasionally a receiver may lose some of the channel information that is stored in its memory. If you are unable to tune to our digital channel 43 (virtual sub-channels 56.1, 56.2, or 56.3), go to the menu in your receiver and perform a channel scan. This should add the missing channel(s) and allow you to switch to our channel using your receiver's remote control.

Detroit Public Television continues to make improvements to the equipment used to transmit our digital programming. Viewers may experience temporary loss of video and/or audio when work is performed on our equipment. We apologize for this inconvenience.

If you are watching our digital channel and have reception difficulties, please send a reception report to dtv@dptv.org. Please include:

• your location (or zip code),
• receiver/tuner brand and model,
• antenna type and location, and
• any other information that may be useful in our efforts to assist you with your reception difficulties.

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